Rh-catalyzed linear hydroformylation of styrene.

Evert Boymans, Michèle Janssen, Christian Müller, Martin Lutz, Dieter Vogt

Index: Dalton Trans. 42(1) , 137-42, (2013)

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Abstract

Usually the Rh-catalyzed hydroformylation of styrene predominantly yields the branched, chiral aldehyde. An inversion of regioselectivity can be achieved using strong π-acceptor ligands. Binaphthol-based diphosphite and bis(dipyrrolyl-phosphorodiamidite) ligands were applied in the Rh-catalyzed hydroformylation of styrene. High selectivities up to 83% of 3-phenylpropanal were obtained with 1,1-bi-2-naphthol-based bis(dipyrrolyl-phosphorodiamidite) with virtually no hydrogenation to ethyl benzene. The coordination chemistry of those ligands towards Rh(I) was investigated spectroscopically and structurally.