ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on catalyst stability and deactivation induced by H2/carbon monoxide (CO) and Argon under conditions mimicking hydroformylation. A mechanistic investigation of the complex chemistry of homogeneous hydroformylation by Wilkinson's catalyst has been undertaken. This industrially significant reaction has become increasingly interesting as low pressure processes have become important. This system is monitored by in situ internal reflectance FTIR spectroscopy at very low rhodium concentrations. The sensitivity and reproducibility of this FTIR technique has been critical to adequately mimic reaction conditions in this system which is so susceptible to concentration effects and multiple solution equilibria. Catalytic hydroformylation has been made economically feasible by the development of water extraction techniques and the addition of excess triphenylphosphine and bidentate phosphine ligands to maintain the Rh activity during successive runs. The chapter provides a fundamental understanding of the behavior of the rhodium catalyst under a variety of conditions building towards characterization of the rhodium species under the actual hydroformylation environment.
