Reductive carbonylation of alkenes using zwitterionic rhodium complexes as catalysts

Abstract

Alkenes react with carbon monoxide, sodium borohydride, propan-2-ol and a catalytic amount of Rh(cod)(η6-PhBPh3)(cod = cyclooctadiene) to give alcohols in fine yields; high regioselectivity for the branched or linear alcohol is usually observed, depending on the organic substrate.