Mechanistic study of the hydroformylation of styrene catalyzed by the rhodium/BDPP system

The hydroformylation of styrene using the rhodium [Rh(μ-OMe)(COD)]2/BDPP [(2S,4S)-bis(diphenylphosphine)pentane] system was studied. Since in situ infrared spectroscopic experiment studies showed a considerable number of absorptions at low pressure, an HPNMR exploration was carried out and a kinetic study was performed in the pressure range between 8 and 30 bar. These studies revealed the presence of different species as resting states depending on the CO/H2 total pressure.