Accessible protocol for asymmetric hydroformylation of vinylarenes using formaldehyde

Abstract

We report herein on an accessible protocol for the asymmetric hydroformylation of vinylarenes using formaldehyde as a substitute for syngas. The regioselectivity (branched/linear = up to 96/4) and enantioselectivity (up to 95% ee) can be attributed to the use of chiral Ph-bpe as a ligand.