A Highly Active, Heterogeneous Hydroformylation Catalyst: Rh(CO)(acac)L,L=poly-Trim Bound Phosphine

Abstract

The immobilization of catalytically active complexes may lead to catalysts that combine the advantages of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts—namely, high activity and selectivity together with separability, so that these catalysts may readily be used in liquid or gas-flow reactor systems. This heterogenization may be established by chemical anchoring of the catalytically active complex to an inorganic support or an organic (polymer) support or by supporting a liquid phase—in which the catalytically active complex is dissolved—on a solid surface (SLP-catalyst). The study described in the chapter comprises an experimental examination of a new polymer-supported catalyst. The catalyst was tested for activity and stability relative to propene hydroformylation in a microcatalytic flow system operated as a differential plug-flow reactor. A known quantity of the catalyst was placed in the reactor, where it formed a short bed, and a mixture of the gaseous reactants (C 3 H 6 , CO, and H 2 ) was allowed to flow through the reactor. Flow rate control was by means of a precision metering valve, and after reduction to atmospheric pressure, the exit gas was periodically analyzed by the injection of samples into a gas chromatograph.