Polyether phosphite for hydroformylation of higher olefins in non-aqueous system and catalyst recovery

A new rhodium catalyst recycling system for non-aqueous hydroformylation of 1-decene is described using a polyether phosphite, OPGPP with a polyether chain of over 19 ethylene glycol units. The corresponding rhodium complexes formed in situ are active for non-aqueous hydroformylation of 1-decene. The catalysts precipitated from the reaction mixture on cooling to room temperature or lower and were reused up to six times without obvious decrease in activity. P loss in the seventh reaction run was detected to be 0.92%. Complex OPGPP/Ru-3(CO)(3) formed in situ has also been proved to be a moderate catalyst for the non-aqueous hydroformylation of 1-decene. The catalysts retained considerable activity up to 87.1% after four successive reaction runs. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.