Hydroformylation catalyst system with syngas surrogate

Abstract

Described herein is a hydroformylation catalyst system and method useful for producing aldehydes from olefin substrates, without using carbon monoxide gas. The hydroformylation catalyst system includes a hydroformylation catalyst complex including a Group 9 metal complexed with a phosphine-based ligand; a syngas surrogate including formic acid and an anhydride compound, which forms carbon monoxide in situ; and hydrogen, which may derive from the syngas surrogate or not derived from the syngas surrogate. The method involves reacting the olefin substrate with a syngas surrogate in the presence of a hydroformylation catalyst complex, wherein the syngas surrogate forms carbon monoxide, and optionally hydrogen, in situ, and then isolating the aldehyde compound from a reaction mixture.