Co-catalysis of rhodium/phosphoramidite catalyst and ZSM-35(10) for the tandem hydroformylation–acetalization of olefins

Abstract

The Rh/BINAPa and ZSM-35(10) co-catalyzed tandem hydroformylation–acetalization of olefins has been developed. A series of olefins with various alcohols performed well in the process, affording the corresponding acetals with high regioselectivities (l/b ≥ 30.5) and excellent catalytic activities (TON of the Rh catalyst up to 4.3 × 10⁴). Control experiments and DFT calculations indicated that the Rh/L11-catalyzed hydroformylation occurred in the solvent outside the molecular sieve, while the acetalization of intermediate aldehydes with alcohols takes place mainly in the interior of the molecular sieve.