hydroformylation

chemical reaction

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June 29, 2026

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Hydroformylation, also known as the oxo process, is a chemical reaction where a hydrogen atom and a formyl group are added to a molecule containing a double bond. This process involves reacting alkenes with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a transition metal catalyst, typically cobalt or rhodium. The primary products are aldehydes, which are then often reduced to alcohols used in solvents, plasticizers, and detergents. This reaction is a significant process in the petrochemical industry, producing millions of tons of aldehydes annually.123

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coordination compound
Coordination compounds in industry
…as hydridotetracarbonylcobalt, of the so-called hydroformylation of olefins—i.e., of their reactions with hydrogen and carbon monoxide to form aldehydes—and the catalysis by tetrachloropalladate(2−) ions of the oxidation of ethylene in aqueous solution to acetaldehyde (see chemical reaction and
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…as hydridotetracarbonylcobalt, of the so-called hydroformylation of olefins—i.e., of their reactions with hydrogen and carbon monoxide to form aldehydes—and the catalysis by tetrachloropalladate(2−) ions of the oxidation of ethylene in aqueous solution to acetaldehyde (see chemical reaction and
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organometallic compound
Hydroformylation
Hydroformylation involves the addition of carbon monoxide and hydrogen to an alkene to form an aldehyde containing one more carbon atom than the original alkene.
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Hydroformylation involves the addition of carbon monoxide and hydrogen to an alkene to form an aldehyde containing one more carbon atom than the original alkene.
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