Chemistry
The Role of Lewis Acids in Catalytic Hydroformylation
Quick fact
Lewis acids like B(C6F5)3 can boost hydroformylation rates by up to 20-fold and shift selectivity toward the linear aldehyde.
Why this is interesting
You've probably heard that rhodium catalysts perform hydroformylation, but did you know that adding a simple boron compound can dramatically speed up the reaction and change the product's shape? What's that tiny additive doing?