Rhodium complexes prepared in situ from [Rh(OMe)(COD)]2, [Rh(CO)2(acac)], [Rh(cod)(acac)] or [Rh(cod)(PPh3)2]+BPh 4- with ligands as HS(CH2)3Si(OMe)3, Ph2P(CH2)2S(CH 2)3Si(OMe)3 or Ph2P(CH2)2Si(OMe) 3 were immobilized in inorganic and hybrid silica matrices via the sol-gel process. The inorganic matrices were prepared with tetramethylorthosilicate while for the hybrid ones 1,4-bis(triethoxysilyl)benzene or 1,2-bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane were used as co-condensation agents. The system based on [Rh(CO)2(acac)]/ Ph2P(CH2)2S(CH 2)3Si(OMe)3 was active in the hydroformylation of 1-hexene and 1-octadecene without any rhodium leaching. It could also be used in the absence of a solvent, as observed in the hydroformylation of 1-decene. Although the best system was based on a hybrid microporous matrix, no straightforward correlation between matrix composition, condensation degree and surface properties could be found.
sol-gel process; hydroformylation; rhodium
