Thermoregulated phase transfer ligands and catalysis. I. Synthesis of novel polyether-substituted triphyenylphosphines and application of their rhodium complexes in two-phase hydroformylation

Abstract

A series of novel water-soluble polyether-substituted triphenylphosphines (PETPPs) were prepared by means of the ethoxylation of mono-, di- and tri- p-hydroxytriphenylphosphines. PETPPs manifest inverse temperature-dependent solubility in water that enables them to act as thermoregulated phase transfer ligands. The concept of the thermoregulated phase transfer catalysis is successfully applied to the biphasic hydroformylation of higher olefins, such as 1-dodecene, in the presence of rhodium-PETPP complexes as the catalysts.