PEG-modified ligands for catalysis and catalyst recycling in thermoregulated systems

Abstract

In this chapter recent developments in catalyst recycling employing thermomorphic ligands based on polyethylene glycol will be reviewed. The main focus will lie on the hydroformylation of higher olefins. The general principles of thermoregulated phase-transfer catalysis and thermoregulated phase-separable catalysis will be explained and the use of this recycling technique in hydroformylation catalysis exemplified. Different synthetic approaches toward novel polyethylene glycol modified monocyclic phosphites will be evaluated. The performance of new phosphite ligands in the rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation of 1-octene will be described, and structure-selectivity and structure-activity dependencies will be discussed. © 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.