Phosphorylation of nitrogen-doped carbon stabilizes Rh clusters for selective hydroformylation of alkenes to linear aldehydes

A phosphorylation strategy was used to fabricate a hollow phosphorus- and nitrogen-doped carbon material encapsulating Rh nanoclusters. Phosphorus doping creates an electronic effect that enhances alkene hydroformylation selectivity, yielding a linear-to-branched aldehyde ratio above 7.