Kinetics on Rhodium-catalyzed Hydroformylation of Formaldehyde

Abstract

Synthesis of glycolaldehyde from formaldehyde and syn-gas under various conditions in DMF solution has been studied kinetically in the presence of a catalytic amout of RhCl(CO) (PPh3)2. Glycolaldehyde was obtained in high yield (85%) and selectivity (97%) under the conditions: P2= 7O k gcm^-2, Poo= 70 k g cm^-2, 100°C and 5 h. By postulating a reaction scheme which could explain the experimental results satisfactorily, the rate equation has been derived as shown below;
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The equilibrium constants and rate constant at 100°C have been determ ined as K1= lx 10^-4 m ol, K2=-3X10^-3 kg^-1cm^2, K3=4 moll^-1, K4=-1 X 10^-2 k g-2cm² and k=0.5^-1