Kinetics of homogeneous dehydrogenation of formic acid in the presence of supramolecular rhodium(III) complex with P-functionalized calix[4]resorcine

Abstract

The kinetics of homogeneous dehydrogenation of formic acid in the presence of supramolecular rhodium(III) complex with P-functionalized calix[4]resorcine were studied in dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, dimethylformamide, and binary formamide-dioxane mixtures (volume ratio 10: 90, 20: 80, 30: 70) over a wide temperature range (40–90°C). The examined Rh(III) complex catalyzed the dehydrogenation process, and its catalytic activity was higher than that observed previously for rhodium complexes with non-macrocyclic phosphorus-containing ligands. The dehydrogenation rate constants were proportional to neither catalyst concentration nor dielectric constant of the medium, which is likely to be related to supramolecular nature of the Rh(III) complex. No micelle formation was observed in the examined systems.