Hydroformylation of unsaturated alcohols catalyzed by Rh(acac)(CO)(2) modified with different phosphorus ligands

The hydroformylation of unsaturated alcohols, 3-buten-2-ol, 1-octen-3-ol and 5-hexen-1-ol, catalyzed with systems containing Rh(acac)(CO)(2) and phosphorus ligands, like ortho-, meta-and para-substituted triphenylphosphite, triphenylphosphine and diphosphine, Ph(2)P(CH2)(x)PPh(2) (x=2,4), has been studied at 60 and 80 degrees C under 10 atm of H-2/CO=1. The main hydroformylation reaction products of the allyl alcohols 3-buten-2-ol and 1-octen-3-ol are the cyclic compounds 2-hydroxy-5-methyltetrahydrofuran C and 2-hydroxy-5-pentyl-tetrahydrofuran G, respectively, Hydroformylation of 5-hexen-1-ol produces the hydroxyaldehydes 7-hydroxyheptanal H and 2-methyl-6-hydroxyhexanal I. The highest catalytic activity has been demonstrated by the systems modified with Ph(2)P(CH2)(4)PPh(2) and P(O-m-MeC(6)H(4))(3).