1.4.10 Hydroformylation

Abstract Hydroformylation of alkenes is one of the most important catalytic industrial processes performed in a homogeneous system. During hydroformylation, aldehydes are formed from alkenes and syngas (a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide) in the presence of a metal complex, usually based on rhodium or cobalt. In this chapter, the catalytic application of metal complexes with N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands in hydroformylation is discussed.