Rhodium-NHC-complexes as potent catalysts in the hydroformylation of 1-octene

We present an over-view of eight different rhodium-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes 1-8 and their catalytic activity and selectivity in hydroformylation of I-octene. It could be shown that activity can be increased by going from electron-rich NHC to electronpoor NHC-ligands. However, no increase in the selectivity could be achieved by introducing bulky substituents to the NHCs. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.