Rhodium–NHC-complexes as potent catalysts in the hydroformylation of 1-octene

We present an overview of eight different rhodium-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes 1–8 and their catalytic activity and selectivity in hydroformylation of 1-octene. It could be shown that activity can be increased by going from electron-rich NHC- to electron-poor NHC-ligands. However, no increase in the selectivity could be achieved by introducing bulky substituents to the NHCs.