How does hydroformylation turn an alkene into an aldehyde with one more carbon atom?

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periodic table with group numbers and the s, p, d, and f blocks — organometallic compound The periodic table of the elements, displaying the group numbers and the s, p, d, and f blocks. Elements in the shaded area are the metals of organometallic chemistry.

Hydroformylation, also known as the oxo process, is a catalytic reaction that converts an alkene into an aldehyde containing one additional carbon atom.12

This transformation is achieved by the addition of carbon monoxide and hydrogen to the alkene in the presence of a homogeneous transition metal catalyst. Commonly used catalysts include complexes of cobalt or rhodium, which facilitate the reaction through a series of organometallic intermediates.231

The process is of significant industrial importance, particularly in the petrochemical industry, where the resulting aldehydes are typically reduced to alcohols for use in the production of detergents, solvents, and plasticizers.12