Catalytic Cycle for Hydroformylation

Hydroformylation is an atom efficient process by which an alkene is converted to an aldehyde.

The catalytic cycle starts with Lewis base dissociation from the 18 electron complex (1) to give HCo(CO)3. The second step (2) involves Lewis base association of 16 electron complex followed by insertion of the olefin (3). These steps are repeated: Lewis base association (4) followed by an insertion (5). Step (6) is the oxidative addition of H2 followed by reductive elimination (7) of aldehyde to regenerate HCo(CO)3. Step (8) is the inhibition of hydroformylation by high CO pressure