Tandem hydroformylation–acetalization with a ruthenium catalyst immobilized in ionic liquids

•For the first time aRu catalyzed hydroformylation–acetalization is reported.•The reaction proceeds well with diols to give cyclic acetals as products.•With styrenes preferentially terminal acetals are obtained.•The catalytic system could be recovered and was reused twice.

For the first time, a ruthenium catalyzed hydroformylation–acetalization reaction of olefins is presented. The tandem reaction proceeds well with 1,2- or 1,3-diols, trapping the intermediary formed aldehydes as cyclic acetals. In this manner the hydrogenation of the aldehydes to the corresponding alcohols usually observed with Ru catalysts is prevented. The optimized catalytic system consisting of Ru catalyst, ionic liquids, acetic acid and ammonium salt can be recycled and reused for at least two further runs. Interestingly, styrenes as substrate give preferentially terminal acetals.

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