Application of γ-Valerolactone as an Alternative Biomass-Based Medium for Aminocarbonylation Reactions.

γ-Valerolactone (GVL) was proposed as a renewable, nontoxic reaction medium with negligible vapor pressure for homogeneous Pd-catalyzed aminocarbonylation reactions. Iodobenzene as a model substrate and its 4-substituted derivatives were converted to the corresponding 2-ketocarboxamides with high conversions and chemoselectivities in γ-valerolactone. The effect of carbon monoxide pressure and reaction temperature on the conversion and selectivities were studied in the range 1-50 bar and 25-100 °C, respectively. The highest conversion and selectivity was achieved at 25 bar and 50 °C for iodobenzene in GVL for 24 h.