Hydroesterification versus hydroformylation-acetalization of 1-hexene catalyzed by soluble carbonylrhodium complexes of pyridine ligands

In this work, the hydroesterification and hydroformylation-acetalization of 1-hexene catalyzed by rhodium(I) complexes, cis-[Rh(CO)2(amine)2](PF6) (amine = pyridine, 2-picoline, 3-picoline, 4-picoline, 3,5-lutidine or 2,6-lutidine) dissolved in methanol under carbon monoxide atmosphere, is described. The reaction products distribution depends on the nature of the coordinated amine to the rhodium center. The effects of variation of CO pressure, temperature, catalyst concentration, 1-hexene/Rh molar ratio and reaction medium, on the reaction rates were also examined.