Heterogeneous hydroformylation of propene over surface rhodium coordinated by immobilized multi-N ligands.

A heterogeneous Rh catalyst with multi-N ligands achieves a TOF of 710 h−1 and over 99% selectivity for propene hydroformylation, remaining stable for 1000 hours.

• Why it matters: Efficient, stable, and cost-effective catalysts are essential for industrial hydroformylation processes, which currently rely on homogeneous systems that pose separation and toxicity challenges.
• What they did: The study developed Rh immobilized on alumina with a multi-N ligand, characterized it through experiments and calculations, and demonstrated its high activity and durability in a fixed-bed reactor.
• The result: This catalyst's performance suggests a promising pathway for designing advanced heterogeneous hydroformylation catalysts using multi-N ligands, enabling more sustainable and efficient chemical production.