ROTACAT: A rotating device containing a designed catalyst for highly selective hydroformylation

A novel concept is presented for the immobilization of a homogeneous cataly st. A hydroformylation catalyst was covalently anchored to monoliths that w ere constructed as the blades of a mechanical stir rer and used in a batch process. The catalyst was effective in the hydroformylation of both higher and lon er alkenes and showed a high regioselectivity for the Linear aldehy de. The concept was proven to be useful in a liquid organic and aqueous pha se as well as in the gas phase and the catalyst could be used numerous time s without catalyst deterioration. No catalyst deactivation was observed in a period over half a year.