Microencapsulated rhodium/cross-linked PVP catalysts in the hydroformylation of 1-hexene

A rhodium complex Rh(acac)(CO)(2) microencapsulated into poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) cross-linked with 2% or 25% divinylbenzene (DVB) was developed as a catalyst for the hydroformylation of 1-hexene. A study was made of the catalytic activity, recyclability, and effect of DVB content of the Rh/P4VP-25% and Rh/P4VP-2% systems. The best yields of hydroformylation products were achieved with the Rh/P4VP-25% as a catalyst. With a high DVB content and regular, spherically shaped particles, Rh/P4VP-25% was an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the hydroformylation of 1-hexene. The recyclability was good and the 1-hexene conversion high. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.