(142a) Hydroformylation and Carbonylation Processes: New Trends in Synthesis of Fine Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals I

Hydroformylation of olefins is one of the well known examples of homogeneous catalysis operating on industrial scale for the last few decades. Its application for the manufacture of C3 to C20 oxo alcohols from linear olefins is well established and the major improvements in these processes were primarily due to breakthrough in catalysis. The wider applicability of this technology has been limited due to difficulties in catalyst-product separation; however, recent developments in biphasic catalysis and immobilized metal complex catalysis have shown a way to expand the applications of this technology. Similarly carbonylation of olefins, alcohols and oxidative carbonylation of amines and phenols by homogeneous catalysis have a potential application in developing novel catalytic routes including non-phosgene alternatives to many industrial products. Particularly, the newly emerging applications in fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals may prove to be very attractive to develop competitive and environmentally benign processes for complex organic products with aldehydes, carboxylic acid and organic carbonate functionality. The aim of this lecture will be to present the current state of development of industrial hydroformylation and carbonylation technologies, including new concepts in catalysis and catalyst-product separation. Several examples of applications in fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals and specialty products will be discussed in comparison to their conventional routes. Some of the examples are: hydroformylation of vinyl aromatic compounds as an alternative route for aryl propionic acids (e.g. Ibuprofen and Naproxen), hydroformylation of 1,4-diacetoxy-2-butene to Vitamin-A intermediate, terpenes to and dicyclopentadiene to TCDial (perfumery products).