Continuous flow homogeneous catalysis: hydroformylation of alkenes in supercritical fluid–ionic liquid biphasic mixtures

Abstract

Rhodium complexes of [1-propyl-3-methylimidazolium]₂ [PhP(C₆H₄SO₃-3)₂] dissolved in the ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate catalyse the hydroformylation of oct-1-ene at a constant rate for >20 h in a continuous flow process in which the substrate, gases and products are transported in and out of the reactor dissolved in scCO₂; <1 ppm rhodium is present in the collected product.