Cascade reactions in polymeric nanoreactors: Mono (Rh)- and bimetallic (Rh/Ir) micellar catalysis in the hydroaminomethylation of 1-octene

The concept of micellar catalysis was transferred to the hydroaminomethylation of I-octene with N,N-dimethylamine. In the first series of experiments a rhodium(i) complex with amphiphilic triphenylphosphane functionalized poly(2-oxazoline)s as macroligand was applied as catalyst. Results obtained under standard hydroformylation conditions (T= 100 degrees C, p = 50 bar) were not satisfying with regard to activities and selectivities of the hydroaminomethylation reaction. Rising the temperature to 150 degrees C increased the yield of amine to 22% with a corresponding n/iso selectivity of 7.5 and a TOF number of 461 h(-1). Best results were obtained by applying a dual Rh/Ir catalyst within the polymeric micelles leading at lower temperature of 130 degrees C to an amine yield of 24% with a corresponding n/iso selectivity of 11 and TOF numbers of about 600 h(-1).