Synthesis of Intermediates by Rhodium-Catalyzed Hydroformylation

The reaction of olefins with carbon monoxide and hydrogen to give aldehydes is referred to as hydroformylation (oxo reaction). As catalyst for this reaction rhodium is about three to four orders of magnitude more active than the more commonly employed cobalt. With special rhodium compounds, e.g. di-ν-chlorobis(ν-1,5-cyclooctadiene)dirhodium [RhCl(C₈H₁₂)]₂, in the presence of chiral phosphanes, even asymmetric hydroformylations can be achieved; however, the enantiomeric purity of the products (20–30%) is not high enough for industrial-scale syntheses.