5. Hydroformylation of functionalized alkenes

The hydroformylation of alkenes carrying other functions such as alcohol, aldehyde, etc., is difficult to apply in the presence of cobalt catalysts operating at over 120 ˚C. Secondary reactions with the aldehydes formed become excessive.

On the other hand, the use of rhodium has enabled the industrialization of several processes:

• hydroformylation of allyl alcohol to produce butanediol, a base for polyester (Kuraray process, 180,000 t/year);

• hydroformylation of oct-7-enal to produce nonanediol or nonanediamine, a component of polyamides (Kuraray process, 3,000 t/year);

• hydroformylation of functionalized butenes, intermediates in vitamin A synthesis (Hoffmann-La Roche and BASF processes: total 3,000 t/year cited as a reminder). This process uses rhodium...