Synthesis of new triarylphosphine ligand and their application in styrene hydroformylation

A series of new triarylphosphine ligands with long-chain alkoxy group, [m-MeOC(6)H(4)P(p-CH(3)(CH(2))(n)OC(6)H(4))(2) and m-MeOC(6)H(4)P(m-CH(3)(CH(2))(n)OC(6)H(4))(2), n = 0, 3, 7, 11 and 15], have been synthesized by a novel method. These phosphines with different electron-donating substituent were applied as ligands in rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation of styrene. The results indicated that the longer-chain-length of p-alkoxy group was favorable to the formation of 2-phenylpropanal, but increasing the chain-length of m-alkoxy group decreased the selectivity for the 2-phenylpropanal. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.