Cobalt-Catalyzed Hydroformylation of Olefins in the Presence of Xenon: New Experimental Evidence for MetalXenon Adducts

The rate of cobalt-catalyzed hydroformylation of cyclohexene to cyclohexanecarboxaldehyde is significantly reduced when xenon is added to the reaction mixture at a concentration similar to that of the olefin. No significant effect is produced by helium or neon under similar conditions. These experiments suggest competitive coordination of xenon to the catalytically active cobalt species.