| abstract |
This invention provides a process for achieving straight chain aldehyde formation from alpha-olefins with improved selectivity efficiency under hydroformylation conditions. The improved hydroformylation results are obtained under mild conditions of temperature and pressure in the presence of a stabilized catalyst complex of rhodium metal, bidentate ligand and monodentate ligand represented by the formula: ##STR1## Illustrative of a preferred bidentate ligand L is 1,1'-bis-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene. Illustrative of a preferred monodentate ligand L' is diphenylethylphosphine. It is an essential feature of the invention process that the monodentate ligand is provided in a molar excess with respect to the rhodium metal in the stabilized catalyst complex. |