Rhodium catalyzed hydroformylation of 2-phenylsulfonylbicyclo[2.2.1]alkenes: effect of the phenylsulphonyl group.

The preliminary results of the hydroformylation of 2-phenylsulfonyl substituted norbornene and norbornadiene derivatives catalyzed by the unmodified Rh(CO)2acac system are presented. The reaction, occurring under standard oxo conditions, gives polyfunctionalized exo norbornene- and exo norbornanecarboxaldehydes. The effect of the phenylsulfonyl group has been evaluated: it has been found that the steric properties of the sulfonyl substituent, more than the electronic ones, influence the regioselectivity of the process.