Dimethyl itaconate hydroformylation

A set of core-functionalized dendrimers was synthesized by Van Leeuwen et al. and one compound was applied in continuous catalysis. [45] The dendritic dppf, Xantphos and triphenylphosphine derivatives (Figures 4.22, 4.30 and 4.31) were active in rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation and hydrogenation reactions (performed batch-wise). Dendritic effects were observed which are discussed in paragraph 4.5. The dendritic rhodium-dppf complex was applied in a continuous hydrogenation reaction of dimethyl itaconate. 

Hydroformylation of norbomene proceeds slowly in spite of the expected reactivity of the strained double bond. Racemization of the product aldehyde does not occur under the reaction conditions. The hydroformylation of methyl methacrylate gives only one isomer, which is a useful chiral synthon. Dimethyl itaconate also can be hydroformylated using (12) as the chiral ligand to give aldehyde product in 82% ee accompanied by hydrogenated ester.64... 

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