RHODIUM AND COBALT CATALYSIS OF THE HYDROFORMYLATION AND HYDROGENATION OF 1,1-DIPHENYLETHYLENE

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0022-328X(00)98651-0

Rhodium and cobalt catalyzed reactions of 1,1-diphenylethylene are compared under catalytic hydroformylation conditions (120-180 deg C, 1500-3000 psi H2/CO).With 2 an 85percent yield of aldehyde (hydroformylation) and a 11percent yield of 1,1-diphenylethane (hydrogenation) resulted.With cobalt on the other hand a maximum of 5percent aldehyde and a 95percent yield of hydrocarbon was obtained.The cobalt reaction is very likely free radical in nature while the rhodium reaction involves the conventional olefin insertion into a metal-hydride bond.