An environmentally friendly hydroformylation using carbon dioxide as a reactant catalyzed by immobilized Ru-complex in ionic liquids

A mixed ionic liquid [bmim][CI + NTf2] system was successfully used as a reaction medium for Ru-catalyzed hydroformylation of 1-hexene with carbon dioxide in the absence of toxic CO and any volatile organic solvents. The yields and TONs are higher than those reported previously using conventional organic solvents. The product can be readily separated by distillation, and the reaction medium containing the Ru-catalyst was successfully recycled. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.