Two-Phase Water-Soluble Rhodium Hydroformylation Catalysts

5 Two-Phase (Water-Soluble) Rhodium Hydroformylation Catalysts 

One important variant of Rh/PPhs catalysis is the two-phase catalyst system developed by Kuntz at Rhone-Poulenc in 1981, using a sulfonated tri-phenylphosphine ligand, P(C6H4-m-S03Na)3 (TPPTS) to generate the water soluble catalyst RhH(C0) P(C6H4-m-S03Na)3]3. 

1-pentene are not soluble enough in water, and the proeess is limited to shorter ehain alkenes that have some degree of water solubility. Celanese-Ruhrchemie eurrently operates several hydroformylation plants based on this water soluble rhodium eatalyst technology. [C. W. Kohlpaintner, R. W. Fischer, B. Cornils, Applied Catalysis A General 2001, 221, 219.] 

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