The effect of the nature of a polymeric matrix on the catalytic propertiesof rhodium catalysts for olefin hydroformylation

The influence of a polymer matrix containing different amounts of 4-N-pyrro lidinopyridine and pyridylmaleimide units in the main chain on the catalyti c properties of rhodium catalysts fixed in the matrix in the olefin hydrofo rmylation reaction was studied. By Fourier transform IR and X-ray photoelec tron spectroscopy techniques, it was shown that the complexation of rhodium with polymeric ligands occurs via nitrogen atoms of pyridine rings. It was found that the polymeric support in the case of copolymers with pyrrolidin opyridine groups acts as a cocatalyst and allows the activity of a rhodium complex in the hydroformylation of poorly reactive olefins such as 2-butene s and isobutene, to be significantly enhanced. Moreover, there is an increa se in the yield of normal-chain aldehydes in the hydroformylation of 1-hexe ne and 2-butenes in the case of copolymers containing more basic nitrogen, since coordination to rhodium leads to the formation of a greater number of intermolecular crosslinks, providing steric control at the substrate isome rization step.