α-fluorinated cyclic amidophosphite ligands.: Their synthesis, Rh complexes and catalytic activity in the hydroformylation of styrene

The synthetic approaches to cyclic phosphite and amido(diamido)phosphite ligands bearing the residues of electron withdrawing perfluorinated tails at the beta-position to the phosphorus atom have been elaborated. Catalytic systems based on rhodium complexes of these ligands formed in situ using Rh(CO)(2)(acac) as a catalytic precursor demonstrate high activity in the hydroformylation of styrene along with good selectivity in respect to branched aldehyde. Quantum-chemical calculations proved that both the rate of the formation of branched alkyl complex, as well as its reactivity are influenced by the steric and electronic parameters in the same manner. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.