Rhodium catalyzed hydroformylation of water insoluble olefins in the presence of chemically modified beta-cyclodextrins: evidence for ligand-cyclodextrin interactions and effect of various parameters on the activity and the aldehydes selectivity

The biphasic rhodium catalyzed hydroformylation of water insoluble olefins in the presence of chemically modified beta -cyclodextrins has been investi gated. The influence of various parameters, such as the nature of the beta -cyclodextrin, the concentrations of phosphine or cyclodextrin and the temp erature is illustrated using 1-decene as a model substrate. The formation o f inclusion complexes between the different components of the system is als o discussed on the basis of NMR experiments. The results indicate that the chemically modified cyclodextrins (CyDs) must not be considered only as inv erse phase transfer catalysts but also as compounds which, by trapping the water soluble ligand, can modify the equilibria between the different catal ytic species. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.