Hüdroformüül

Hüdroformüül, also known as the oxo process, is a crucial industrial chemical reaction. It involves the addition of a formyl group (CHO) and a hydrogen atom across a carbon-carbon double bond in an alkene. This process is primarily used to produce aldehydes from alkenes. The reaction is typically catalyzed by transition metal complexes, most commonly cobalt or rhodium-based catalysts.

The general reaction can be represented as: R-CH=CH2 + CO + H2 → R-CH2-CH2-CHO. The presence of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) is essential. The choice of catalyst and reaction conditions significantly influences the regioselectivity of the reaction, meaning whether the formyl group adds to the terminal or internal carbon of the double bond, and the stereoselectivity, though this is less commonly controlled for bulk commodity chemicals.

Hydroformylation is a cornerstone of the petrochemical industry. The aldehydes produced are versatile intermediates. They can be further hydrogenated to alcohols, which are widely used as solvents and in the production of plasticizers, detergents, and surfactants. Aldehydes can also be oxidized to carboxylic acids, which have applications in polymers and pharmaceuticals. The scale of hydroformylation processes is immense, reflecting the global demand for these downstream products. The development of highly efficient and selective catalysts has been a major area of research, leading to improved yields and reduced environmental impact.