KINETICS OF HYDROFORMYLATION OF 1-DECENE USING HOMOGENEOUS HRH(CO)(PPH3)3 CATALYST - A MOLECULAR-LEVEL APPROACH

The kinetics of hydroformylation of 1-decene using homogenous HRh(CO)(PPh3)3 catalyst has been reported in the temperature range of 50-70-degrees-C. The effect of catalyst, P(H-2), P(CO), and 1-decene concentration on the rate of hydroformylation has been studied. Based on the analysis of initial rate data, a rate equation has been proposed and kinetic parameters evaluated. The activation energy was found to be 11.76 kcal/mol. A molecular level approach to kinetic modelling has also been illustrated. The rate equation derived assuming oxidative addition of H-2 as a rate determining step, has been found to represent the data satisfactorily. The rate parameters for the mechanistic model have been evaluated for the data at 60-degrees-C.