Selective hydroformylation-acetalization of aryl alkenes in methanol catalyzed by RhCl3·3H2O-P(OPh)3 system

The regioselective hydroformylation-acetalization of alkenes can be achieved in one-pot reaction in the presence of RhCl3·3H2O as a catalysts and triphenylphosphite [P(OPh)3] as a ligand in pure methanol as a solvent. The reaction with styrene was carried out at 80 °C and 600 psi (CO/H2 = 1/1) to produce the branched acetal and the linear acetals as the major products (B/L = 92/8). The total yield of this reaction was 90%. RhCl3·3H2O showed the highest catalytic activity compared to other rhodium catalysts use in this process. The effects of the type of the catalyst, co-catalyst and the type of alcohol have been studied.