Synthesis of meta -substituted monodentate phosphinite ligands and implication in hydroformylation ^†

Synthesis of meta -substituted phosphinite ligands 3,3 ' -(methoxyphosphanediyl)bis( N , N - diethylaniline) ( 4a ) and methoxybis(3-methoxyphenyl)phosphane (4b) , in high yields, has been demonstrated. Typical phosphorus chemical shift between 110–120 ppm, appearance of methoxy protons and corresponding carbon, as well as ESI-MS spectra unambiguously confirmed the existence of phosphinite ligands 4a and 4b . To demonstrate the synthetic usefulness of 4a and 4b , these ligands were tested in the rhodium catalyzed hydroformylation of 1-octene. The diethylamine substituted ligand 4a was found to be highly active, whereas 4b was less reactive but revealed slightly better regioselectivity of 62