Hydroformylation Reactions with Rhodium-Complexed Dendrimers on Silica

Polyamidoamine dendrimers, constructed on the surface of silica, were phosphonated by using diphenylphosphinomethanol, prepared in situ, and complexed to rhodium by use of [Rh(CO)₂Cl]₂. Excellent selectivities, favoring the branched aldehydes obtained from aryl olefins and vinyl esters, were observed by using the Rh(I) complex as the catalyst in hydroformylation reactions. The heterogeneous Rh (I) catalyst can also be recycled and reused without significant loss of selectivity or activity.