| Abstract: | A comprehensive theoretical investigation into the mechanism of 1‐phenyl‐1‐(4‐pyridyl)ethene hydroformylation, using a rhodium catalyst employing a nonlocal density functional method (B3LYP), was carried out. The calculated results show that it is strongly exothermic by >90 kJ/mol of the whole catalytic cycle, and the rate‐limited step is H2 oxidative addition. The regioselectivity originates from olefin insertion into the Rh? H bond. The predominant product is the regiospecifically 3‐phenyl‐3‐(4‐pyridal)propanal determined both thermodynamically and kinetically. These are in agreement with practicality experimental studies. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006 |
