Highly dispersed Rh single atoms over graphitic carbon nitride as a robust catalyst for the hydroformylation reaction

Catal Sci Technol. 2023 Jan 12;13(5):1425-1436. doi: 10.1039/d2cy02094g. eCollection 2023 Mar 6.

Abstract

Rhodium-catalysed hydroformylation, effective tool in bulk and fine-chemical synthesis, predominantly uses soluble metal complexes. For that reason, the metal leaching and the catalyst recycling are still the major drawbacks of this process. Single-atom catalysts have emerged as a powerful tool to combine the advantages of both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts. Since using an appropriate support material is key to create stable, finely dispersed, single-atom catalysts, here we show that Rh atoms anchored on graphitic carbon nitride are robust catalysts for the hydroformylation reaction of styrene.