Hydroformylation in CO2-Expanded Media

CO2-expanded solvents provide a unique reaction medium for hydroformylation of 1-octene. The tunable syngas solubility in CXLs coupled with their tunable solubility properties leads to solvents that can be tailored to a particular reaction. Thus, hydroformylation of 1-octene using rhodium catalysts in CO2-expanded 1-octene or toluene proceeds with higher selectivities and the catalysts also exhibit higher activities. For such a process to be economically viable, it is essential that the expensive rhodium catalyst is recycled. Herein we detail our intial efforts to effect efficient recycle of rhodium by supporting the catalyst on soluble polymers that can be readily precipitated and recycled.