Constructing single-atom Rh sites for selective hydroformylation of 1,3-butadiene to adipic aldehyde

Abstract

To solve the difficulty and high cost in catalyst separation and recovery in the hydroformylation reaction is an ultimate goal from both academia and industry. In this study, we develop a recyclable single-atom Rh catalyst for the challenging hydroformylation of 1,3-butadiene. A unique bidentate phosphite-containing porous organic polymer with large surface area and hierarchical pores was rationally designed and synthesized for dispersing and stabilizing Rh species. Comprehensive characterizations reveal the atomic distribution of Rh species on the polymer surface via coordination with P donors. As a result, the single-atom Rh catalyst exhibits catalytic activity comparable to its homogeneous analogue, achieving complete conversion with selectivity to adipic aldehyde of up to 49.7 %. Remarkably, the single-atom Rh catalyst could be easily separated from the reaction mixture for successive reuses without significant decay in both activity and selectivity. This work represents an advancement towards the rational design of a heterogeneous Rh catalyst for 1,3-butadiene hydroformylation.