Alkenes bearing electron-withdrawing substituents are catalytically acetalized with 1, 3- propanediol only by the use of PdCl 2 (MeCN) 2 catalyst under O 2 atmosphere. When a combination of BiCl 3 and LiCl is used as co-catalyst, the acetalization proceeds effectively. These results indicate that a hydroperoxopalladium (II) species is most likely an active catalyst in the present reaction.
[Suginome, Hiroshi; Wang, Jian Bo Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1: Organic and Bio-Organic Chemistry (1972-1999), 1990 , # 10 p. 2825 - 2829]