Method of regioselective synthesis of substituted benzoates

A method of synthesis of a disubstituted benzoate, comprising contacting a coumalate compound of formula (I)

• an alkene of formula R1CH═CHR2, a metal oxidation catalyst, and an oxidant, under conditions suitable to provide the substituted benzoate of formula
• or a mixture thereof;
• wherein R is H, alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, or cycloalkylalkyl, and
• R1 and R2 are independently alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, arylalkyl, aryloxyalkyl, or arylalkoxyalkyl, or,
• R1 and R2 together with the atoms to which they are bonded form a cycloalkene ring of more than about six members;
• wherein any alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, arylalkyl, aryloxyalkyl, or arylalkoxyalkyl, or cycloalkene, of R1 and R2 can be substituted with alkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, or carboxyalkyl groups.

A method of synthesis of a linker-bonded benzoate dimer of formula:

• wherein both R groups are H, alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, or cycloalkylalkyl, and,
• Q is an alkylene group of at least one carbon atom;
• comprising contacting a coumalate compound of formula (I)
• an alkene of formula CH2═CHCH2QCH2CH═CH2, a metal oxidation catalyst, and an oxidant, under conditions suitable to provide the substituted linker-bonded benzoate dimer.