Polyether phosphite for hydroformylation of higher olefins in non-aqueous system and catalyst recovery

A new rhodium catalyst recyling system for non-aqueous hydroformylation of 1-decene is described using a polyether phosphite, OPGPP with a polyether chain of over 19 ethylene glycol units. The corresponding rhodium complexes formed in situ are active for non-aqueous hydroformylation of 1-decene. The catalysts precipitated from the reaction mixture on cooling to room temperature or lower and were reused up to six times without obvious decrease in activity. P loss in the seventh reaction run was detected to be 0.92%. Complex OPGPP/Ru₃(CO)₃ formed in situ has also been proved to be a moderate catalyst for the non-aqueous hydroformylation of 1-decene. The catalysts retained considerable activity up to 87.1% after four successive reaction runs.