Nonaqueous Biphasic Hydroformylation of Long Chain Alkenes Catalyzed by Water Soluble Phosphine Rhodium Catalyst with Polyethylene Glycol Instead of Water

The application of polyethylene glycol (donated as PEG), as an environmentally benign solvent instead of water, in rhodium catalyzed hydroformylation of long chain alkenes by using water soluble phosphine BISBIS or TPPTS (TPPTS: sodium salt of sulfonated triphenylphosphine, BISBIS: sodium salt of sulfonated 2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)-1,1′-biphenyl) is herein reported. The conversion of long chain alkenes in PEG-200 could reach above 95.0% after a short reaction time (15 min). In addition, an efficient phase separation and recycling of PEG-200 and catalyst were achieved. The leaching of rhodium into product phase detected by ICP-AES was less than 0.06 wt% of the initial amount.