In the last decade there have been numerous advances in the area of rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation, such as highly selective catalysts of industrial importance, new insights into mechanisms of the reaction, very selective asymmetric catalysts, in situ characterization and application to organic synthesis. The views on hydroformylation which still prevail in the current textbooks have become obsolete in several respects. Therefore, it was felt timely to collect these advances in a book.

The book contains a series of chapters discussing several rhodium systems arranged according to ligand type, including asymmetric ligands, a chapter on applications in organic chemistry, a chapter on modern processes and separations, and a chapter on catalyst preparation and laboratory techniques. This book concentrates on highlights, rather than a concise review mentioning all articles in just one line. The book aims at an audience of advanced students, experts in the field, and scientists from related fields. The didactic approach also makes it useful as a guide for an advanced course.

"The writing is clear and interesting enough to maintain the interest of an undergraduate student, but with a straightforward narrative style that will engage even experts in the field. This is a "must have" reference book for all chemistry libraries and researchers working with hydroformylation catalysts."
*(Journal of the American Chemical Society, 123:27 (2000)
*"...the book provides a very good perspective on recent developments in rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation and should appeal to a wide readership, including both synthetic organic and organometallic chemists, together with chemists and chemical engineers in both academic and industrial environments."
*(Applied Organometallic Chemistry, 15 (2001)
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Inhalt
to hydroformylation.- Hydroformylation with unmodified rhodium catalysts.- Rhodium Phosphite Catalysts.- Phosphines as ligands.- Asymmetric hydroformylation.- Hydroformylation in Organic Synthesis.- Aqueous biphasic hydroformylation.- Process aspects of rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation.- Catalyst preparation and decomposition.- Novel developments in hydroformylation.