Aqueous biphasic hydroformylation in the presence of cyclodextrins mixtures: evidence of a positive synergistic effect.

Mixtures of randomly methylated cyclodextrins of various sizes have been evaluated in the rhodium-catalysed hydroformylation of higher olefins in an aqueous biphasic medium. A marked positive non-linear effect on 1-tetradecene conversion is observed when the CD molar ratio in the mixture is modified. The formation of 2:1 ternary inclusion complexes between RAME-CDs and the olefin is supposed to be responsible for the extra conversion observed.