Abstract: A method for production of pivalic acid comprising the steps of: (a) reacting isobutylene, carbon monoxide, and a first catalyst to produce a reaction mixture; (b) contacting the reaction mixture with water, thereby producing a crude acid product having pivalic acid and oligomeric neo-carboxylic acid; (c) then separating the pivalic acid and the oligomeric neo-carboxylic acid from the crude acid product; (d) then reacting the oligomeric neo-carboxylic acid with a source of carbon monoxide at a temperature of less than 200° C. in the presence of a second catalyst to produce a C5 carbocation product, wherein the first and second catalyst are either the same or different; and (e) reacting the C5 carbocation product with water; thereby producing pivalic acid having an overall yield of at least 80 wt. %.

Abstract: A method for production of pivalic acid comprising the steps of: (a) reacting isobutylene, carbon monoxide, and a first catalyst to produce a reaction mixture; (b) contacting the reaction mixture with water, thereby producing a crude acid product having pivalic acid and oligomeric neo-carboxylic acid; (c) separating the pivalic acid and the oligomeric neo-carboxylic acid from the crude acid product; (d) reacting the oligomeric neo-carboxylic acid with a source of carbon monoxide at a temperature of less than 200° C. in the presence of a second catalyst to produce a C5 carbocation product, wherein the first and second catalyst are either the same or different; and (e) reacting the C5 carbocation product with water; thereby producing pivalic acid having an overall yield of at least 80 wt. %.

Abstract: A method for production of pivalic acid comprising the steps of: (a) reacting isobutylene, carbon monoxide, and a first catalyst to produce a reaction mixture; (b) contacting the reaction mixture with water, thereby producing a crude acid product having pivalic acid and oligomeric neo-carboxylic acid; (c) separating the pivalic acid and the oligomeric neo-carboxylic acid from the crude acid product; (d) reacting the oligomeric neo-carboxylic acid with a source of carbon monoxide at a temperature of less than 200° C. in the presence of a second catalyst to produce a C5 carbocation product, wherein the first and second catalyst are either the same or different; and (e) reacting the C5 carbocation product with water; thereby producing pivalic acid having an overall yield of at least 80 wt. %.

Abstract: A method for production of pivalic acid comprising the steps of: (a) reacting isobutylene, carbon monoxide, and a first catalyst to produce a reaction mixture; (b) contacting the reaction mixture with water, thereby producing a crude acid product having pivalic acid and oligomeric neo-carboxylic acid; (c) separating the pivalic acid and the oligomeric neo-carboxylic acid from the crude acid product; (d) reacting the oligomeric neo-carboxylic acid with a source of carbon monoxide at a temperature of less than 200° C. in the presence of a second catalyst to produce a C5 carbocation product, wherein the first and second catalyst are either the same or different; and (e) reacting the C5 carbocation product with water; thereby producing pivalic acid having an overall yield of at least 80 wt. %.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of esters. In particular, the process includes contacting an olefin or an ether with carbon monoxide and an acid composition comprising BF3.2CH3OH to from a product composition, adding an alcohol to the product composition, and separating the BF3.2CH3OH from the ester. The separated BF3.2CH3OH may then be recycled to the reaction unit.

Abstract: A catalyst for use in hydroformylation of olefins which comprises a Group VIII noble metal complexed with a phosphine ligand having at least one alkyl or aryl group bonded thereto, such as tris-4-propylphenyl phosphines and tris-4-octylphenyl phosphines. These and other triphenylphosphine catalysts can be separated from a crude reaction product of a noble metal-catalyzed hydroformylation reaction by contacting the crude reaction product with a dense polymeric, nonpolar membrane, preferably nonpolar polyolefin membranes.

Abstract: A method for producing a potassium paradiphenyl phosphino sulfonate ligand which comprises reacting potassium diphenyl phosphide with a lithium salt of para-chloro benzenesulfonic acid in the presence of tetrahydrofuran at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A method for producing a potassium para-diphenyl phosphino sulfonate ligand which comprises reacting potassium diphenyl phosphide with a lithium salt of para-chloro benzenesulfonic acid in the presence of tetrahydrofuran at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A method for separating a noble metal catalyst from a crude reaction product of a noble metal-catalyzed hydroformylation reaction which comprises: (a) contacting the crude reaction product under perstraction conditions with a membrane capable of allowing a substantial portion of unreacted olefin feed and hydroformylation reaction product to pass therethrough as permeate while retaining a substantial portion of the catalyst as retentate; (b) removing the permeate by sweeping it away from the membrane by means of a sweep stream which is the same as the olefin feed used in the hydroformylation reaction; and (c) retaining the catalyst as retentate.

Abstract: A method for separating a water soluble Group VIII noble metal catalyst from the crude reaction product of a noble metal-catalyzed hydroformylation reaction run in aqueous solution, in an aqueous emulsion or as an aqueous suspension, the crude reaction product including an aqueous phase containing a water soluble Group VIII noble metal-ligand complex catalyst, and an organic phase containing unreacted olefin feed and an organic hydroformylation reaction product, which comprises: (a) contacting the crude reaction product with a hydrophobic membrane capable of allowing a substantial portion of the unreacted olefin feed and the organic hydroformylation reaction product to pass therethrough while retaining a substantial portion of the water soluble Group VIII noble metal-ligand complex catalyst; (b) removing unreacted olefin feed and organic hydroformylation reaction product which passes through the hydrophobic membrane as permeate; and (c) retaining the water soluble Group VIII noble metal-ligand complex catalys

Abstract: Esters are prepared directly from 2-substituted alcohols, such as Guerbet alcohols, by dehydrogenating and esterifying the alcohol at 170.degree. C.-240.degree. C. in the presence of a catalyst system comprising (i) platinum on activated carbon, zinc oxide or zinc C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 carboxylate and (ii) NaOH, KOH or LiOH. Mixed esters may also be prepared from appropriate mixtures of 2-substituted alcohols.

Abstract: A method for separating a water soluble Group VIII noble metal catalyst from the crude reaction product of a noble metal-catalyzed hydroformylation reaction run in aqueous solution, in an aqueous emulsion or as an aqueous suspension, the crude reaction product including an aqueous phase containing a water soluble Group VIII noble metal-ligand complex catalyst, and an organic phase containing unreacted olefin feed and an organic hydroformylation reaction product, which comprises: (a) contacting the crude reaction product with a hydrophobic membrane capable of allowing a substantial portion of the unreacted olefin feed and the organic hydroformylation reaction product to pass therethrough while retaining a substantial portion of the water soluble Group VIII noble metal-ligand complex catalyst; (b) removing unreacted olefin feed and organic hydroformylation reaction product which passes through the hydrophobic membrane as permeate; and (c) retaining the water soluble Group VIII noble metal-ligand complex catalys

Abstract: Process for producing aliphatic imines and/or amines from aliphatic monohydric alcohols, such as higher molecular weight oxo alcohols, including ether alcohols, comprising the steps of dehydrogenating the alcohol to an aldehyde in situ in the presence of a zinc oxide and/or zinc salt/metal hydroxide dehydrogenation catalyst and a soluble amount of a primary aliphatic amine which condenses immediately with the aldehyde under reflux conditions, with continuous water removal, to form the corresponding aliphatic imine (Schiff base). The corresponding aliphatic amine can be formed by reducing or reductively aminating the imine in known manner to form corresponding primary, secondary or tertiary amines as desired.

Abstract: A catalytic process for the hydroformylation of olefinic, sulfur containing thermally cracked petroleum streams to produce aldehydes and/or alcohols is disclosed. The catalysts are homogeneous transition metal carbonyl complexes. Especially preferred catalysts for low and medium pressure hydroformylation are cobalt and rhodium carbonyl hydride complexes in which some of the carbonyl ligands have been replaced by trivalent phosphorus ligands. In a preferred high pressure hydroformylation, the sulfur-containing naphtha and gas oil distillate feeds are produced from vacuum residua by high temperature thermal cracking. Such feeds contain more than 20% olefins with 1-n-olefins as the single major types. These olefin components are hydroformylated in the presence of a cobalt carbonyl complex to produce a novel type of semilinear aldehyde and/or alcohol product containing an average of less than one alkyl branch per molecule.

Abstract: A catalytic process for the hydroformylation of olefinic, sulfur containing thermally cracked petroleum streams to produce aldehydes and/or alcohols is disclosed. The catalysts are homogeneous transition metal carbonyl complexes. Especially preferred catalysts for low and medium pressure hydroformylation are cobalt and rhodium carbonyl hydride complexes in which some of the carbonyl ligands have been replaced by trivalent phosphorus ligands. In a preferred high pressure hydroformylation, the sulfur-containing naphtha and gas oil distillate feeds are proudced from vacuum residue by high temperature thermal cracking. Such feeds contain more than 20% olefins with 1-n-olefins as the single major types. These olefin components are hydroformylated in the presence of a cobalt cabonyl complex to produce a novel type of semilinear aldehyde and/or alcohol product containing an average of less than one alkyl branch per molecule.

Abstract: There are disclosed novel compositions of matter comprising monoalkylphenols prepared by selectively alkylating the olefin component of a thermally cracked sulfur-containing petroleum distillate derived from residua. The monoalkylphenols have certain ortho to para ratios and may be used to prepare a number of useful derivatives such as ethoxylated and propoxylated surfactants, sulfoalkylated products, sulfurized antioxidants, overbased phenates, dithiophosphate derivatives, formaldehyde reaction products and similar methylene bridged products which are useful demulsifiers.

Abstract: A catalytic process for the hydroformylation of olefinic, sulfur containing thermally cracked petroleum streams to produce aldehydes and/or alcohols is disclosed. The catalysts are homogeneous transition metal carbonyl complexes. Especially preferred catalysts for low and medium pressure hydroformylation are cobalt and rhodium carbonyl hydride complexes in which some of the carbonyl ligands have been replaced by trivalent phosphorus ligands. In a preferred high pressure hydroformylation, the sulfur-containing naphtha and gas oil distillate feeds are produced from vacuum residue by high temperature thermal cracking. Such feeds contain more than 20% olefins with 1-n-olefins as the single major types. These olefin components are hydroformylated in the presence of a cobalt carbonyl complex to produce a novel type of semilinear aldehyde and/or alcohol product containing an average of less than one alkyl branch per molecule.

Abstract: There are disclosed novel compositions of matter comprising monoalkylphenols prepared by selectively alkylating the olefin component of a thermally cracked sulfur-containing petroleum distillate derived from residua. The monoalkylphenols have certain ortho to para ratios and may be used to prepare a number of useful derivatives such as ethoxylated and propoxylated surfactants, sulfoalkylated products, sulfurized antioxidants, overbased phenates, dithiophosphate derivatives, formaldehyde reaction products and similar methylene bridged products which are useful demulsifiers.

Abstract: Salts of surfactant alkyl aromatic sulfonic acids react with lower dialkyl sulfates under anhydrous conditions to form the corresponding novel lower alkyl sulfonate esters and as by-products, the salts of the corresponding alkyl sulfuric acid.