Synthesis, characterization and Hydroformylation Catalytic Activity of 1-hexene of Water-soluble RuCl2(DMSO)2(PySO3Na)2 Complex

Abstract

In this work we describe the synthesis and characterization of a new water soluble ruthenium complex [Ru(Cl)2(DMSO)2(PySO3Na)2] (complex 1); where [PySO3Na] is the sodium salt of p-sulphonated pyridine. Complex 1 was obtained by slow addition of ligand to a cis-[Ru(Cl)2(DMSO)4] complex solution under inert atmosphere, the mixture was refluxed for 1 hour. Complex 1 was characterized by FT-IR and 1H NMR techniques. Complex 1 was active in the catalytic 1-hexene hydroformylation and a preliminary test with real naphtha in a biphasic reaction mixture (water/toluene) shows little activity. Temperature, pressure, and substrate/catalyst ratio were studied with 1-hexene substrate. Catalysis with metallic particles was tested with a mercury drop trial giving negative results. The reuse of the aqueous phase in several reactions under the same experimental conditions showed loss of catalytic activity after the second reuse. Complex 1 is active for hydroformylation reaction of 1-hexene even in the presence of thiophene compounds.

Keywords

• Hydroformylation
• Ruthenium complex
• Naphtha
• Biphasic catalyst