Studies on the preparation of bimetallic RhCo3(CO)12/SiO2 catalysts by infrared spectroscopy

The preparation of bimetallic Rh-Co catalysts with Rh loading of 1 %, Rh and Co atomic ratio of 1:3 from [Rh(CO)(2)Cl](2) and cobalt carbonyls (Co-2(CO)(8) and/or Co-4(CO)(12)) on the surface of SiO2 has been investigated by means of in situ IR spectroscopy. The bimetallic RhCo3 cluster can be efficiently formed from ([Rh(CO)(2)Cl](2) + Co-4(CO)(12))/SiO2 by thermal treatment under a reducing atmosphere. In particular, (Rh+ + Co2+)/SiO2 derived from [Rh(CO)(2)Cl](2) and Co-4(CO)(12) likewise can be efficiently transformed to the RhCo3 cluster under the ethylene hydroformylation atmosphere at 423 K.