A new thermoregulated PEG biphasic system and its application for hydroformylation of 1-dodecene

The development of a new thermoregulated polyethylene glycol (PEG) biphasic system composed of PEG-400/1,4-dioxane/n-heptane is reported in this paper. By applying this system in the hydroformylation of 1-dodecene catalyzed by Rh complexes modified with phosphite ligand containing PEG chains, TMPGP (P[O(CH2CH2O)nCH3]3, n = 8), the conversion of 1-dodecene and the yield of aldehydes reached up to 96% and 94%, respectively. The catalyst, after being recycled twenty-three times, showed no appreciable loss of catalyst activity. The average Rh loss was 0.65% each run.

A new thermoregulated biphasic system composed of PEG-400/1,4-dioxane/n-heptane, which underwent a reversible change from biphase to monophase regulated by temperature, was reported and used for the hydroformylation of 1-dodecene catalyzed by Rh/TMPGP (P[O(CH2CH2O)nCH3]3, n = 8) complexes. The catalyst could be reused for 23 successive runs without appreciable loss of catalytic activity and the average Rh leaching to the organic phase was 0.65% each run. .Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide