CATALYTIC HYDROFORMYLATION OF 1-HEXENE OVER CO2RH2(CO)12 SUPPORTED ON INORGANIC CARRIER MATERIALS

Co2Rh2(CO)12 supported on alumina, silica, magnesium silicate or zeolites catalyses 1-hexene hydroformylation to C-7-aldehydes with good yields. The effects of different amines on the 1-hexene hydroformylation were studied with Co2Rh2(CO)12 strongly bound on an alumina carrier. This catalyst converted 85% of 1-hexene to C-7-aldehydes. When Et3N is added to the hydroformylation solution, the yield of C-7-alcohols was maximum at 97%. With other cocatalysts Et2NH, aniline, pyridine or NH3 the yields of C-7-alcohols were 62%, 24%, 17% and 0%, respectively. When studying the influence of the amount of Et3N, it was found that less amine was needed for good alcohol conversion when the catalyst was supported on alumina than on silica. On the whole, the Co2Rh2(CO)12 catalyst supported either on silica, magnesium silicate or zeolite in the same reaction conditions in the presence of Et3N gave very similar C-7-Oxygenate yields (99%) as Co2Rh2(CO)12 on alumina. However, the alcohol contents of the above C-7-Oxygenate yields were much lower than in the case of Co2Rh2(CO)12 on alumina. A 4-5 wt.% metal content of a Co2Rh2(CO)12-alumina-Et3N or Et2NH catalyst was optimum in 1-hexene hydroformylation for 17 h. A synthesis gas pressure of 50 bar and a temperature of 100-degrees-C provided the optimum reaction conditions.