Zeolite entrapped rhodium carbonyl clusters as catalyst for liquid phase hydroformylation of olefins

Abstract Following a novel procedure, rhodium carbonyl clusters have been entrapped in NaY zeolites. The resulting product proved to be very active as a catalyst for the liquid phase hydroformylation of olefins, showing a high selectivity to the formation of aldehydes, and a normal-: iso-aldehyde ratio similar to that shown by rhodium carbonyls in homogeneous catalysis. The catalyst was tested also in the hydroformylation of non-conjugated diolefins, mainly dialdehydes being obtained. This catalyst system can be easily recovered by decantation and re-used without particular loss of activity. The determination of rhodium in the reaction mixture has shown that during the catalytic cycle the loss of catalyst is very low.