Evaluation of polymer-supported rhodium catalysts in 1-octene hydroformylation in supercritical carbon dioxide

Supercritical CO2 has been used as a benign solvent in the hydroformylation of 1-octene using a Rh-based catalyst. The catalyst is attached to a polymer backbone that has fluoroacrylate branches that make it soluble in supercritical CO2. Quantitative solubility determinations of catalyst precursors and the catalyst were carried out at 318.15 K and 172.4 bar. The catalyst was evaluated in the hydroformylation reaction of 1-octene at 323.15 and 348.15 K and 172.4 and 241.3 bar. Results showed that the reaction rate is enhanced by pressure at constant temperature. The catalyst was evaluated for intact recovery after reaction using an arlcite filter. Hydrogenation of 1-octene was the model reaction. A total of 20 reaction cycles were performed in the batch mode with no decrease in activity and no Rh leaching.