Hydrogenation using Wilkinson’s Catalyst

Examples for Hydrogenation Reactions

Hydroformylation or Oxo Process
Co2(CO)8
2 RCH=CH2 + 2CO + 2H2 R-CH2-CH2-CHO + R-CH(CHO)-CH3
Major Minor
For Example
Co2(CO)8 A B
2 C2H5CH=CH2 + 2CO + 2H2 C2H5-CH2-CH2-CHO + C2H5-CH(CHO)-CH3
Major (75%) Minor (25%)
A B
 Product Selectivity: Linear vs. Branched Products
(CO)3Co-CH2-CH2R (CO)3Co-CH-CH3
R

R
CH2R
CO CH2 CO C
No Steric hindrance b/w -Co(CO)3 Co Co H C
H
3 Steric hindrance b/w -Co(CO)3
and –CH2-CH2R OC CO OC CO and -CHR(CH
CHR(CH3)
3:1 OHC-CH2-CH3
OHC-CH2-CH2R Linear:Branched
R
R
A
H CO
Co
B
OC CO

Intermediate A Intermediate B
(CO)3Co-CH2-CH2R (CO)3Co-CH-CH3
R

CH2R R
CO CH2 CO C
Co H
Co H C
OC CO 3
OC CO
CO, H2
Reductive Elimination CO, H2
Reductive Elimination

OHC-CH2-CH3R
+
3:1 OHC-CH2-CH3 + H[Co(CO)4
Linear:Branched ]
H[Co(CO)4] R