STUDIES ON THE FORMATION OF BIMETALLIC Rh-CoCLUSTERS FROM MONOMETALLIC RHODIUM ANDCOBALT CLUSTERS

According to in situ IR and catalytic investigations, RhCo3(CO)12 can be effectively formed from Rh4(CO)12 and Co2(CO)8 by coimpregnation on the SiO2 surface. In situ IR results show that the surface behavior under CO of a SiO2-supported monometallic rhodium and cobalt sample derived from Rh4(CO)12 and Co2(CO) after H2 reduction is similar to that of RhCo3(CO)12/SiO2. The carbonylation of RhCo3 results in the generation of RhCo3(CO)12 on the surface. Catalytic results illustrate that the catalyst obtained from Rh4(CO)12 and Co2(CO)8 by coimpregnation and RhCo3(CO)12/SiO2 have similar catalytic properties in ethylene hydroformylation.