A further breakthrough in biphasic, rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation: the use of Per(2,6-di-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin as inverse phase transfer catalyst
Solvent free biphasic hydroformylation of various water-insoluble terminal olefins can be achieved in high yields and selectivities by using a water-soluble rhodium/triphenylphosphine trisulfonate catalyst and per(2,6-di-o-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin as inverse phase transfer catalyst. The catalytic activities were up to ten times higher than those observed without per(2,6-di-o-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin.