Chemically modified beta-cyclodextrins in biphasic catalysis: a fruitful contribution of the host-guest chemistry to the transition-metal catalyzed reactions

Biphasic hydroformylation, Wacker oxidation and hydrocarboxylation of water insoluble olefins have been investigated in the presence of chemically mod ified beta-cyclodextrins. In all cases, cyclodextrins appear more efficient than common mass transfer promoters to increase the activity and the selec tivity of reactions. Most of the results are interpreted from the molecular recognition between the host cavity of modified cyclodextrins and substrat e. The stability of the chemically modified cyclodextrins is also reported. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.