HYDROFORMYLATION OF 1-OCTENE USING RHODIUM-PHOSPHITE CATALYST IN A THERMOMORPHIC SOLVENT SYSTEM

The use of a liquid-liquid biphasic ‘thermomorphic’ or temperature-dependent multicomponent solvent (TMS) process, in which the catalyst remains as a residue in one of the liquid phases and the product goes preferentially to the other, can be an enabling strategy of commercial application of hydroformylation processes with high selectivity, efficiency and ease of product separation and catalyst recovery1. This paper describes the reaction kinetics of synthesis of n-nonanal, a commercially important fine chemical, by the hydroformylation reaction of 1-octene using a homogeneous catalyst consisting of HRh(PPh3)3(CO) and P(OPh)3 in a TMS- system containing propylene carbonate, dodecane and 1,4-dioxane.