Hydroesterification versus hydroformylation–acetalization of 1-hexene catalyzed by soluble carbonylrhodium complexes of pyridine ligands

The rhodium(I) complexes, cis-[Rh(CO)2(amine)2](PF6) (amine = pyridine, 2-picoline, 3-picoline, 4-picoline, 3,5-lutidine or 2,6-lutidine) dissolved in methanol under carbon monoxide atmosphere are effective catalysts for the hydroesterification and hydroformylation–acetalization of 1-hexene. In the presence of these soluble complexes, 1-hexene, CO and methanol give methyl-heptanoate and 1,1-dimethoxy-heptane as major products, and minor amounts of heptanal. The acetal product comes from the nucleophilic addition reaction of the methanol with the formed heptanal. Gaseous by-products (H2 and CO2) from the catalysis of the water–gas shift reaction (WGSR) are also observed. The reaction products distribution depends on the nature of the coordinated amine to the rhodium center. The effects of the reaction variables such as CO pressure, temperature, catalyst concentration, 1-hexene/Rh molar ratio and reaction medium, were also examined. These data are discussed in terms of catalytic cycles, and it is concluded that common Rh–H catalytic species are involved.