Hydroformylation

The unsaturated hydrocarbons, especially C2–C4, olefins, are important building blocks in the petrochemical industry and because oxygenated products such as alcohols or acids are industrially important chemicals, the hydroformylation reaction has been the subject of intensive investigation. The chapter discusses the basic chemistry, along with recent developments of interest as reported in the literature, although not in chronological order. Stereochemical studies are included only when pertinent to another point under consideration. The primary product of hydroformylation, as it is usually practiced, consists of aldehydes with one more carbon atom than the olefin substrate. These aldehydes can then be used to produce a variety of useful derivatives; the aldehydes themselves have minimum utility. The major derivatives are alcohols, formed either by direct hydrogenation, or by an aldol condensation followed by hydrogenation. The reaction mechanism for the production of primary product is presented in this chapter. The secondary products and reactions such as (1) isomer problems, (2) alcohol formation, (3) alkane formation, (4) ketone formation, (5) olefin isomerization, and (6) other secondary reactions, are also presented in this chapter. Various substrates for the production of these compounds such as acyclic olefins and cyclic olefins, are also described in this chapter.