Progress of Olefin Hydroformylation Catalyzed by Water-Soluble Rhodium-Phosphine Complexes

Olefin hydroformylation catalyzed by water-soluble rhodium-phosphine complexes in aqueous/organic biphasic systems is very popular for its remarkable advantages such as environmentally friendly nature and easy catalyst separation. Some aqueous catalysis systems have been applied in the industrial production of butyl aldehyde by propene hydroformylation. However, for long-chain olefins, the reaction is retarded for their poor solubility in the aqueous phase containing catalysts. The strategy and the progress for accelerating the reaction of higher olefin hydroformylation in aqueous/organic biphasic systems were reviewed, including the use of surface active phosphines and the addition of promoters such as cyclodextrin and surfactants. Among them, composite catalysis systems composed of rhodium-phosphine complexes and surfactants showed a good application prospect. In addition, the internal olefin hydroformylation and the ways for improving regioselectivity for more valuable linear aldehydes were also mentioned.