Hydroformylation of Cyclohexene with Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen Using Ruthenium Carbonyl Catalyst: Influence of Pressures of Gaseous Components

Abstract

Hydroformylation of cyclohexene was studied with a catalyst system ofRu3(CO)12 and LiCl using H2 and CO2 instead of CO in NMP. The influence of H2 andCO2 pressures on the total conversion and the product distribution was examined. It wasshown that increasing total pressure of H2 and CO2 promoted the reverse water gas shiftreaction and increased the yield of cyclohexanecarboxaldehyde. Its hydrogenation tocyclohexanemethanol was promoted with increasing H2 pressure but suppressed withincreasing CO2 pressure. Cyclohexane was also formed along with those products and thisdirect hydrogenation was suppressed with increasing CO2 pressure. The roles of CO2 as apromoter as well as a reactant were further examined by phase behavior observations andhigh pressure FTIR measurements.