THERMOREGULATED PHASE-TRANSFER LIGANDS AND CATALYSIS .1. SYNTHESIS OFNOVEL POLYETHER-SUBSTITUTED TRIPHENYLPHOSPHINES AND APPLICATION OF THEIR RHODIUM COMPLEXES IN 2-PHASE HYDROFORMYLATION

A series of novel water-soluble polyether-substituted triphenylphosphi nes (PETPPs) were prepared by means of the ethoxylation of mono-, di- and tri-p-hydroxytriphenylphosphines. PETPPs manifest inverse temperat ure-dependent solubility in water that enables them to act as thermore gulated phase transfer ligands. The concept of the thermoregulated pha se transfer catalysis is successfully applied to the biphasic hydrofor mylation of higher olefins, such as 1-dodecene, in the presence of rho dium-PETPP complexes as the catalysts.