Heterogeneous Co-based catalytic systems for alkene hydroformylation

Abstract

Hydroformylation of olefins is one of the highest-volume industrial reactions to meet the vast demands for aldehydes as well as their derivatives. Homogeneous Co complexes were the original catalysts industrialized since 1960s. Heterogeneous catalysis is considered superior owing to the facile separation of catalysts from products, shorter technical process, and reduced manufacturing costs. Unexpectedly, there has not been a single case of plant using heterogenized Co-based catalyst successfully. To address the separation issue and understand the catalytic mechanism of the reactions, this review summarizes the progress in heterogeneous systems and provides a detailed discussion of their catalytic performance. Strategies for stabilizing Co species through support modification and additive incorporation are carefully considered to elucidate why heterogeneous systems have not yet succeeded on an industrial scale. Furthermore, we provide our insights for the development of heterogeneous catalytic hydroformylation, including the challenges, opportunities, and outlooks. The aim is to deepen the fundamental understanding of heterogeneous alkene hydroformylation, guiding the community’s research efforts towards realizing its successful application in the future.