Ruthenium catalyzed efficient hydroformylation regulated by thiazolinyl-based phosphine

A catalytic system comprised of Ru3(CO)12, thiazolinyl-based phosphine (L1), and HBF4 enables the efficient hydroformylation, which the tautomer L1b is more favorable for the occurrence of the reaction as well as the additive HBF4 is beneficial for the formation of ruthenium hydrogen active species. The formation and stabilization of the critical Ru-complex intermediates were verified by the DFT calculations. The hydroformylation proceeds with high chemical selectivity especially for the linear, internal and cyclic olefins (conversion up to 99 %, selectivity of aldehysdes up to 92 %).