Solid phase hydroformylation of olefins catalysed by rhodium carbonyl complexes

Some polymers anchored alkenes have been hydroformylated in the presence of rhodium-carbonyl complexes dissolved in toluene: carrying out the reaction in a high-pressure reactor equipped with a vial suitably designed at 40-100°C and 20-60 atm (CO/H2 = 1), the solid substrates are converted to the corresponding oxo-aldehydes in high yields. The regioselectivity is strongly shifted toward the linear aldehyde in all cases investigated, when the rhodium carbonyl complex is modified with Xantphos (3:1 or 4:1 molar ratio). Treatment with 5% of trifluoroacetic acid in dichloromethane at room temperature removed quantitatively the oxo-product from the polymer support, which can be purified and reused.