Hydroformylation and isomerization of hex-1-ene catalyzed by [Rh(acac)(CO)(PPh3)]: Effect of modifying ligands

Kinetic Study of the Oxidative Addition Reaction between Methyl Iodide and [Rh(imino-β-diketonato)(CO)(PPh)3] Complexes, Utilizing UV-Vis, IR Spectrophotometry, NMR Spectroscopy and DFT Calculations

The oxidative addition of methyl iodide to [Rh(β-diketonato)(CO)(PPh)₃] complexes, as modal catalysts of the first step during the Monsanto process, are well-studied. The β-diketonato ligand is a bidentate (BID) ligand that bonds, through two O donor atoms (O,O-BID ligand), to rhodium. Imino-β-diketones are similar to β-diketones, though the donor atoms are N and O, referred to as an N,O-BID ligand. In this study, the oxidative addition of methyl iodide to [Rh(imino-β-diketonato)(CO)(PPh)₃] complexes, as observed on UV-Vis spectrophotometry, IR spectrophotometry and NMR spectrometry, are presented. Experimentally, one isomer of [Rh(CH₃COCHCNPhCH₃)(CO)(PPh₃)] and two isomers of [Rh(CH₃COCHCNHCH₃)(CO)(PPh₃)] are observed-in agreement with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Experimentally the [Rh(CH₃COCHCNPhCH₃)(CO)(PPh₃)] + CH₃I reaction proceeds through one reaction step, with a rhodium(III)-alkyl as the final reaction product. However, the [Rh(CH₃COCHCNHCH₃)(CO)(PPh₃)] + CH₃I reaction proceeds through two reaction steps, with a rhodium(III)-acyl as the final reaction product. DFT calculations of all the possible reaction products and transition states agree with experimental findings. Due to the smaller electronegativity of N, compared to O, the oxidative addition reaction rate of CH₃I to the two [Rh(imino-β-diketonato)(CO)(PPh)₃] complexes of this study was 7-11 times faster than the oxidative addition reaction rate of CH₃I to [Rh(CH₃COCHCOCH₃)(CO)(PPh₃)].

Multi-nuclear, high-pressure, operando FlowNMR spectroscopic study of Rh/PPh3 - catalysed hydroformylation of 1-hexene

The hydroformylation of 1-hexene with 12 bar of 1 : 1 H2/CO in the presence of the catalytic system [Rh(acac)(CO)2]/PPh3 was successfully studied by real-time multinuclear high-resolution FlowNMR spectroscopy at 50 °C. Quantitative reaction progress curves that yield rates as well as chemo- and regioselectivities have been obtained with varying P/Rh loadings. Dissolved H2 can be monitored in solution to ensure true operando conditions without gas limitation. 31P{1H} and selective excitation 1H pulse sequences have been periodically interleaved with 1H FlowNMR measurements to detect Rh-phosphine intermediates during the catalysis. Stopped-flow experiments in combination with diffusion measurements and 2D heteronuclear correlation experiments showed the known tris-phosphine complex [RhH(CO)(PPh3)3] to generate rapidly exchanging isomers of the bis-phosphine complex [Rh(CO)2(PPh3)2] under CO pressure that directly enter the catalytic cycle. A new mono-phosphine acyl complex has been identified as an in-cycle reaction intermediate.

Density functional theory calculations of Rh-β-diketonato complexes

Density functional theory results on the geometry, energies and charges of selected Rh-β-diketonato reactants, products and transition states.