This study performs a computational
examination of the effect of
the ligand nature on the Rh–L interaction and of the formaldehyde
hydroformylation for substituted rhodium–carbonyl catalysts
using a range of realistic mono- and bidentate ligands (CO, P(OMe)3, PPh3, DMI, and DPPE). The energy decomposition
analysis of the Rh–L bond suggests the bidentate ligand, DPPE,
shows the strongest interaction with Rh. The π-accepting capacity
of monodentate ligands follows the sequence CO > P(OMe)3 > PPh3 > DMI. Analysis of the potential energy
surface
reveals the σ-donor ligands serve to increase the energy of
the active anionic complex [Rh(CO)3L]−. No clear correlation has been found between the CO insertion/hydrogenolysis
energy barrier and electronic properties of ligands, while the H2 oxidative addition barrier increases with increasing the
ligand’s electron donating capacity. The investigation on the
effect of the ligand (PPh3) coordination number demonstrates
that the three-coordinated catalyst exhibits the highest energy barrier,
and the influence of ligand steric hindrance on the H2 oxidative
addition can be ignorable.