(1) Catalytic Processes and Materials, Faculty of Science and Technology, Institute of Mechanics Processes and Control Twente (IMPACT), University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
Abstract:
The heterogeneously catalysed gas phase hydroformylation of ethylene to propionaldehyde was studied over solid RhCl(PPh3)3 and RhCl(CO)(PPh3)2. At 3 bar and 185 °C, an active phase formed from RhCl(PPh3)3 which was different from RhCl(CO)(PPh3)2 under the reaction conditions studied. The selectivity of RhCl(PPh3)3 to propanal was much better than that of supported Rh-metal. Thus, solid metal-complexes operated in gas phase reactions clearly hold promise as a new class of heterogeneous catalysts.