THERMOREGULATED PHASE-TRANSFER LIGANDS AND CATALYSIS - PART VI - 2-PHASE HYDROFORMYLATION OF STYRENE CATALYZED BY THE THERMOREGULATED PHASE-TRANSFER CATALYST OPGPP RH/

A novel nonionic water-soluble octylpolyglycol-phenylene-phosphite (OP GPP) was synthesized and the two-phase hydroformylation of styrene cat alyzed by an OPGPP/Rh catalyst was investigated fully. The catalyst di splayed excellent catalytic activity; high styrene conversion and high aldehyde yield (99.6 and 99.3%, respectively) were obtained at 80 deg rees C and 5.0 MPa, and the molar ratio of branched/normal aldehyde wa s 4.8. The experimental results revealed that there was a 'thermoregul ated phase-transfer catalysis (TRPTC)' process present in the reaction s. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.