In situ formation of HRh(CO)(2)(PPh3)(2) active species on the surface of a SBA-15 supported heterogeneous catalyst and the effect of support pore size on the hydroformylation of propene

A method of in situ formation of HRh(CO)(2)(PPh3)(2) active species on the surface of heterogeneous Rh/SBA-15 catalyst has been developed and confirmed in this work. The amount of active species formed inside the pores can be controlled by the support pore size. This class of PPh3-Rh/SBA-15 catalyst has been employed in propene hydroformylation to be highly active, selective, stable, easily workable and recyclable. Using TEM, solid-state (31)p MAS NMR, and in situ FT-IR, HRh(CO)(2)(PPh3)(2) active species can be characterized. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved