Study of one of the most selective hydroformylations of butadiene to adipaldehyde, which is industrially useful.
The first experimental observation of phosphine rhodium-catalyzed isomerizing hydroformylation to form adipaldehyde.
The selective formation of adipaldehyde from butadiene is due to standard hydroformylation and isomerizing hydroformylation.
DFT calculations show the intermediates, transition states and energetics of the key alkene isomerization.
Energy barriers for the formation of isomeric alkenes are similar.