Water-soluble metal complexes and catalysts - Part XI. Novel ligands from tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphane and amino acids: Synthesis and catalytic studies in two-phase hydroformylation

Novel water-soluble ligands were prepared in high yields by condensation of various amino acids with tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphane. Rhodium complexes of these ligands, formed in situ, were tested in two-phase hydroformylation of propylene. Selectivity observed with these ligand systems is easily controlled by altering the pH of the reaction mixture. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.