AQUEOUS-PHASE RHODIUM HYDROFORMYLATION OF OCTENE-1 WITH TRISULFONATEDTRIS (OMEGA-PHENYL)ALKYLPHOSPHINES AND TRISULFONATED TRIPHENYL PHOSPHINE - REACTION SELECTIVITY AS AN INDICATION OF RHODIUM PHOSPHINE COMPLEX CHEMISTRY

The electron donating, water soluble phosphines, P[(CH2)xC6H4-p-SO3Na] 3, x=1, 2, 3, 6, are used to generate aqueous rhodium catalysts for th e hydroformylation of octene-1. At low L/Rh ratios conversion generall y increases with increasing number of methylene groups. At high L/Rh r atios the catalytic activity decreases. For comparison data are given for P C6H4-m-SO3Na)3, TPPTS, as well. The new complexes, Rh (acac) (CO ) L, where L = P[(CH2)xC6H4-p-SO3Na]3, x = 1, 2, 3, 6, and HRh (CO) L3 where L = P[(CH2)2C6H4-p-SO3Na]3, are described. The latter compound, HRh (CO) L3, appears to oxidatively add water to yield [H2Rh(CO)L3]+.