Highly efficient Rh(I)/tris-H8-binaphthyl monophosphite catalysts for hydroformylation of dicyclopentadiene to dialdehydes

Catalytic systems for Rh(I)-catalyzed hydroformylation of dicyclopentadiene have been developed using tris-H8-binaphthyl monophosphite as ligands. The catalyst exhibited high catalytic activity (S/C = 4000, TON = 3286) and good to excellent selectivity to dialdehydes. The Rh(I) complex bearing the ligands with chlorophenyl ester substituents led to 99.9% conversation and 98.7% selectivity to dialdehydes under relatively mild condition (6 MPa, 120 °C).