HYDROFORMYLATION CATALYZED BY IMMOBILIZED RHODIUM COMPLEX TO POLYMER SUPPORT

The concept for conducting hydroformylation reactions by immobilized r hodium complex on solid supports has received considerable attention, as revealed by many recent publications and patents. Among a variety o f polymeric supports, including styrene-divinyl benzene copolymers or inorganic compounds functionalized with phosphines or amines, vinyl py ridine copolymer crosslinked with divinylbenzene was used as the prima ry support in this investigation. Three types of heterogeneous rhodium complex catalysts were prepared and their properties, and activities, selectivities and n/i ratio were studied for hydroformylation of prop ylene and 1-octene at a temperature of 120-130 degrees C, a pressure o f 30-90 Kg/cm(2), and a H2/CO ratio of 1. The results of this study re vealed that these novel heterogeneous catalysts were useful for hydrof ormylation of olefins and have commercial potential.