New ruthenium/phosphino carbazole systems for selective preparation of alcohols under hydroformylation conditions

Efficient hydrogenation of aldehydes is highly desirable in hydroformylation process to obtain alcohol products. This work developed carbazole-derived phosphine ligands for efficient Ru-catalyzed hydrogenation of aldehydes in the presence of carbon monoxide. Up to 99 % yields of alcohols were obtained in the presence of high-pressure CO at 130 celcius. The results of different ligands revealed the crucial role of N-H moiety on carbazole in promoting the catalytic hydrogenation. It was applied to the Co/Ru-catalyzed hydroformylation process, resulting in the production of long-chain alcohols with excellent yields.

Automated summary

Efficient Ru-catalyzed hydrogenation of aldehydes was achieved using carbazole-derived phosphine ligands, with the crucial role of N-H moiety in promoting the catalytic reaction. The method was successfully applied in the Co/Ru-catalyzed hydroformylation process, resulting in the production of long-chain alcohols with excellent yields.