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Ultralow-Loading and High-Performing Ionic Liquid-Immobilizing Rhodium Single-Atom Catalysts for Hydroformylation
Xinjia Wei1, Yongjun Jiang1,2, Yuan Ma1
1Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Research Institute of Industrial Catalysis, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Xuhui District 130, 200237, Shanghai, P. R. China.
Chemistry (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|June 29, 2022
Summary
A novel rhodium single-atom catalyst immobilized in a polyoxometalate-based ionic liquid demonstrates high activity for alkene hydroformylation. This catalyst achieves near-complete conversion and aldehyde yield at ultra-low rhodium loading without phosphine ligands.
Area of Science:
- Heterogeneous Catalysis
- Organometallic Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Polyoxometalates (POMs) are versatile anionic clusters with tunable properties.
- Ionic Liquids (ILs) offer unique solvent properties and stabilization capabilities for catalysts.
- Single-atom catalysts (SACs) represent the ultimate limit in catalyst dispersion and efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a highly active and stable single-atom rhodium catalyst for alkene hydroformylation.
- To investigate the role of ionic liquids in stabilizing single-atom rhodium species.
- To achieve efficient aldehyde production from alkenes using minimal amounts of rhodium.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of a Keggin polyoxometalate-based ionic liquid-immobilizing rhodium single-atom catalyst (MTOA)5[SiW11O39Rh].
- Characterization using FTIR, ICP, and ESI-MS to confirm single Rh atom incorporation and stability.
- Testing catalytic activity for alkene hydroformylation, including styrene, under various conditions.
Main Results:
- The catalyst demonstrated exceptionally high activity for hydroformylation of alkenes to aldehydes at ultra-low rhodium loading (ca. 3 ppm).
- Styrene hydroformylation achieved nearly 99% conversion and aldehyde yield with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 9000 h⁻¹ without phosphine ligands.
- The ionic liquid cation effectively stabilized the single rhodium atoms, preventing aggregation and leaching.
Conclusions:
- The developed POM-based IL-immobilizing Rh single-atom catalyst offers a highly efficient and stable system for hydroformylation.
- This approach enables ultra-low rhodium loading, reducing costs and environmental impact.
- The catalyst's miscibility with n-hexane further enhances its applicability in industrial hydroformylation processes.
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