Selective formation of 1-propanol via ethylene hydroformylation over the catalyst originated from RhVO4

It is found that vanadia-modified Rh/SiO2 catalyst (V-Rh/SiO2) exhibited high selectivity of 1-propanol formation in ethylene hydroformylation. The performance of V-Rh/SiO2 was much dependent on the calcination temperature and the formation of RhVO4 mixed oxide crystallites. The active sites for 1-propanol formation can be formed by the reduction of the RhVO4 mixed oxide.