Rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation of isoprene has been studied in the presence of various mono-and diphosphines. Using a large excess of the ligand, the reaction can be performed under mild conditions(80-100
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C, 40-80 atm) and results in three unsaturated aldehydes formed in a 95% combined selectivity.The study of the effects of the reaction variables revealed remarkable trends, opposite those usuallyobserved with simple alkenes. The increase in the concentration of the phosphorus ligand and/or ligandbasicity strongly accelerates the reaction. Moreover, the reaction shows unusual kinetics, being first orderin both hydrogen and CO pressure under "common" hydroformylation conditions. The obtained dataconfirm that an
3-
1 rearrangement, which converts an
3-allylrhodium intermediate resistant to COinsertion into the much more reactive
1 complex, is the most critical step of this reaction.