Hydroformylation of styrene in the presence of platinum(II) complex catalysts incorporating cyclic phosphines and phosphonous diesters as P-ligands

The hydroformylation activity of various 5- and 6-membered P-heterocycles was investigated in platinum-catalysed hydroformylation of styrene. All of the tested ligands, such as the phosphole-, oxaphosphorine- and phoshinine-based ligands proved to be catalytically active. Especially good aldehyde selectivities were obtained with the chelating diphenylphosphino-tetrahydrophosphinine and diphenylphosphino-hexahydrophosphinine ligands. While the two aldehyde regioisomers were formed close to equimolar amounts with the monodentate ligands, high branched selectivities were observed with the chelating ones. The effect of the 4-substitution of the parent styrene on chemo- and regioselectivity was investigated.