Cobalt-Catalyzed Hydroformylation of Olefins in the Presence of Additional “Inert” Gases

The rate of hydroformylation of cyclohexene to cyclohexanecarboxaldehyde in the presence of octacarbonyldicobalt is strongly reduced by the presence of an additional gas, such as dinitrogen or argon, under very high pressure, other conditions being kept constant. Competition of these gases with dihydrogen and/or the olefin within the coordination sphere of the catalytically active cobalt carbonyl species is suggested to be responsible for the observed behavior.