Preparation of porous ruthenium catalysts utilizing a silsesquioxane ligand; catalytic activity towards hydroformylation of 1-octene

The controlled calcination of ruthenium complexes together with an aminosilsesquioxane ligand (1) at 823 K in air stream for 4 h afforded porous silicas including monodispersed ruthenium oxide nanoparticles with high surface areas and uniformly controlled micropores. Bimodal porous oxides with both meso- and micropores were prepared by the impregnation of Ru complexes and 1 onto titania (JRC-TIO-4) or silica (JRC-SIO-1), followed by the careful calcination at 823 K. These bimodal catalysts showed higher activity towards hydroformylation of 1-octene (C9-aldehydes yield up to 31%, linear selectivity up to 95% in CO 20 atm, H2 25 atm at 403 K for 20 h with 1.5 mol% Ru catalyst) than the catalysts prepared without an aminosilsesquioxane ligand.

Graphical abstractCombination of an animosilsesquioxane ligand, ruthenium complexes, and titania or silica followed by the controlled calcination afforded porous oxides having both micro- and mesopores. These oxides showed catalytic activities towards the hydroformylation of 1-octene with high linear selectivity of aldehyde.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide