Highly Regioselective and Rapid Hydroformylation of Alkyl Acrylates Catalyzed by a Rhodium Complex with a Tetraphosphorus Ligand

Alkyl acrylates have been hydroformylated to the linear aldehydes with high regioselectivity (linear/branch > 99/1) and extraordinarily high average turnover frequencies (up to 5400 h(-1)) by using a rhodium complex with a tetraphosphorus ligand. This protocol is in sharp contrast to the most of other processes that favor production of the branched aldehyde (typically > 95% branched for most Rh-catalyzed reaction systems). The high turnover number achieved by this new catalytic system is also remarkable considering the less reactive character of alkyl acrylates to the hydroformylation reaction conditions.