Continuous fixed-bed gas-phase hydroformylation using supported ionic liquid-phase (SILP) Rh catalysts

Continuous flow gas-phase hydroformylation of propene was performed using novel supported ionic liquid-phase (SILP) catalysts containing immobilized Rh complexes of the biphosphine ligand sulfoxantphos in the ionic liquids 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate and halogen-free 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium n-octylsulfate on silica support. The Rh–sulfoxantphos SILP catalysts proved to be more regioselective than catalysts without ligand and the analogous ionic liquid-free catalysts, giving up to 96% linear product. Furthermore, the performance of the catalysts was generally strongly influenced by the catalyst composition. This is the first report on the use of SILP catalysts for fixed-bed gas-phase hydroformylation.