Abstract: Alkyl carboxylates of the formula:R--CO--O--CH.sub.2 R'are prepared by hydrocarbonylating a compound of the formula:R--CO--O--R'in the simultaneous presence, in the reaction medium, of cobalt, ruthenium, an alkyl iodide and an ionic iodide, the atomic ratio Co/Ru being less than or equal to 1, and the total amount of iodine-containing promoters present in the medium being such that I/Ru is greater than or equal to 5.

Abstract: Methyl acetate is carbonylated to acetic anhydride with carbon monoxide, in liquid phase, in an anhydrous reaction medium, in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of (i) nickel, (ii) methyl iodide, (iii) an alkali metal iodide, and (iv) a crown ether.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of acetic anhydride by carbonylation. In the process, carbon monoxide is reacted with methyl acetate in the liquid phase, in a carboxylic acid, in the presence of an effective amount of nickel, methyl iodide, an ionic iodide selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium iodides, quaternary phosphonium iodides, sodium iodide, potassium iodide and cesium iodide, and a co-catalyst selected from the group consisting of lithium salts and alkaline earth metal salts.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of acetic anhydride by carbonylation. In the process, carbon monoxide is reacted with methyl acetate in an anhydrous medium, in the liquid phase, in the presence of an effective amount of nickel, methyl iodide, a quaternary ammonium or quaternary phosphonium iodide and a lithium salt, the reaction medium initially containing acetic anhydride, if desired.

Abstract: Alkali or alkaline earth metal cobalttetracarbonylates well suited for catalyzing carbonylation reactions, e.g., the carbonylation of organic compounds comprising halomethyl functions, are facilely prepared by reacting a cobalt (II) compound with carbon monoxide in the presence of (i) an inorganic base which comprises an alkali or alkaline earth metal hydroxide or an alkali or alkaline earth metal bicarbonate and (ii) at least one sulfur compound having at least one sulfur atom, the oxidation state of which being no greater than +3, and in a reaction medium comprising water, an alcohol, an ether, or admixture of water and an alcohol or an ether.

Abstract: Methyl acetate is carbonylated, advantageously to acetic anhydride, in a homogeneous liquid phase, advantageously in a virtually anhydrous reaction medium, in the presence of (a) a cobalt source, (b) a source of iron in the zero oxidation state, (c) an ionic iodide of the formula A.sup.+ I.sup.- in which A.sup.+ is a nitrogen group quaternary onium cation, or an alkali metal cation, and, (d) if appropriate, a carboxylate of the formula A'.sup.n+ (OCOR).sub.n.sup.-, in which n is 1 or 2 and A'.sup.n+ is defined as was A.sup.+, or is an alkaline earth metal cation, with A'.sup.n+ and A.sup.+ either being the same or different, and R is an alkyl, aralkyl or aryl radical having a maximum of 8 carbon atoms, with the total amount of halogen compounds present in the carbonylation reaction medium (expressed in gram atoms of halogen and designated by X.sub.T) being such that the atomic ratio X.sub.T /(A.sup.+ +n.A'.sup.n+) is less than or equal to 1.

Abstract: Carboxylic acid anhydrides of the formula RCO--O--COR', e.g., acetic anhydride, are facilely prepared by reacting, in an essentially anhydrous, liquid phase containing an aprotic organic solvent, (i) a compound of the formula RX, (ii) a carboxylate of the formula (R'COO.sup.-).sub.n A.sup.n+, and (iii) carbon monoxide, said reaction being carried out in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a salt of cobalt tetracarbonyl halide, at a temperature ranging from about 0.degree. to 200.degree. C. and under a pressure which is less than or equal to about 600 bars.

Abstract: Methyl acetate is carbonylated, advantageously to acetic anhydride, in a homogeneous liquid phase, in a virtually anhydrous reaction medium, in the presence of: (a) a cobalt source, (b) a ruthenium source, (c) an ionic iodide of the formula: A.sup.m+ I.sub.m.sup.- in which A.sup.m+ is a nitrogen group quaternary onium cation, an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal cation, or a lanthanide or actinide group metal cation, (c') if appropriate, a carboxylate of the formula: A'.sup.n+ (OCOR).sub.n.sup.-, in which n is 1 or 2 and A'.sup.n+ is defined as was A.sup.m+, with A'.sup.n+ and A.sup.m+ either being the same or different, and R is an alkyl, aralkyl or aryl radical having a maximum of 8 carbon atoms, and (d) hydrogen, the total amount of halogen compounds present in the carbonylation reaction medium (expressed in gram atoms of halogen and designated by X.sub.T) being such that the atomic ratio X.sub.T /(m.A.sup.m+ +n.A'.sup.n+) is less than or equal to 1.

Abstract: Carboxylic acids having the structural formula R.sup.1 COOH, wherein R.sup.1 is a linear, branched or cyclic chain alkyl radical of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a phenyl-C.sub.n H.sub.2n -radical wherein 1.ltoreq.n.ltoreq.6, are prepared by carbonylating an alcohol having the formula R.sup.1 -OH with carbon monoxide in liquid phase, in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of nickel and an alkyl or acyl halide promoter therefor, at a temperature of at least about 120.degree. C. and under a total pressure of less than 200 bars, and said carbonylation being carried out in the presence of at least one vanadium compound in which the vanadium is in an oxidation state of 4 or 5, and in an initial carboxylic acid reaction medium having the formula R.sup.2 -COOH, wherein R.sup.2 is defined as was R.sup.1 above, and further wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be the same or different.

Abstract: Alkyl carboxylates are hydrocarbonylated and/or carbonylated with carbon monoxide and hydrogen, in an aqueous medium, and in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a catalyst system comprising (i) ruthenium, (ii) cobalt, (iii) at least one iodine-containing promoter, and (iv) chromium. The subject hydrocarbonylation/carbonylation is admirably well suited, e.g., for the preparation of acetaldehyde, ethanol, ethyl acetate and acetic acid, especially from a methyl carboxylate.

Abstract: Alkyl carboxylates are hydrocarbonylated and/or carbonylated with carbon monoxide and hydrogen, in an aqueous medium, and in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a catalyst system comprising (i) ruthenium, (ii) cobalt, (iii) at least one iodine-containing promoter, and (iv) vanadium. The subject hydrocarbonylation/carbonylation is admirably well suited, e.g., for the preparation of acetaldehyde, ethanol, ethyl acetate and acetic acid, especially from a methyl carboxylate.

Abstract: Carboxylic acids having the structural formula R.sup.1 COOH, wherein R.sup.1 is a linear, branched or cyclic chain alkyl radical of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a phenyl-C.sub.n H.sub.2n -radical wherein 1.ltoreq.n.ltoreq.6, are prepared by carbonylating an alcohol having the formula R.sup.1 -OH with carbon monoxide in liquid phase, in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of nickel and an alkyl or acyl halide promoter therefor, at a temperature of at least about 120.degree. C. and under a total pressure of less than 200 bars, and said carbonylation being carried out in the presence of at least one lanthanide salt, and in an initial carboxylic acid reaction medium having the formula R.sup.2 -COOH, wherein R.sup.2 is defined as was R.sup.1 above, and further wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be the same or different.

Abstract: Carboxylic acid anhydrides are prepared by carbonylating a carboxylic acid ester in liquid phase, in an essentially anhydrous reaction medium including a sulfone reaction solvent, and in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of (i) nickel and an alkyl or acyl iodide promoter therefor, and (ii) a co-catalyst which comprises at least one alkali or alkaline earth metal salt, or quaternary ammonium or phosphonium iodide.The subject process is well adapted, e.g., for the preparation of acetic anhydride by carbonylation of methyl acetate.

Abstract: Carboxylic acids having the structural formula R.sup.1 COOH, wherein R.sup.1 is a linear, branched or cyclic chain alkyl radical of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a .PHI.--C.sub.n H.sub.2n -- radical wherein .PHI. is phenyl and 1.ltoreq.n.ltoreq.6, are prepared by carbonylating an alcohol having the formula R.sup.1 --OH with carbon monoxide in liquid phase, in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of nickel and an alkyl or acyl halide promoter therefor, at a temperature of at least about 120.degree. C. and under a total pressure of less than 200 bars, and said carbonylation being carried out in the presence of at least one chromium salt in which the chromium is in a state of oxidation (p) of greater than zero (p>0), and in an initial carboxylic acid reaction medium having the formula R.sup.2 --COOH, wherein R.sup.2 is defined as was R.sup.1 above, and further wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be the same or different.

Abstract: A process for the homologization of methanol to produce ethanol, comprising carbonylating methanol in the simultaneous presence of hydrogen, cobalt, ruthenium, at least one ionic halide, and at least one alkyl halide, the molar ratio Ru/Co being at least about 2.

Abstract: A process for the carbonylation of methanol to produce acetaldehyde comprising reacting methanol in the presence of hydrogen, cobalt, ruthenium, at least one ionic halide, and at least one alkyl halide, the molar ratio Ru/Co being at most equal to about 2, and the cobalt concentration being at most about 50 milligram atoms per liter of reaction medium.

Abstract: Acetaldehyde is prepared by reacting methanol with a mixture comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide, which mixture comprises at least 25 mol percent hydrogen, in the presence of cobalt, an ionic iodide and a halogen-containing promoter which is different from the ionic iodide. The reaction is best carried out at a temperature of at least 165.degree. C. and with a ratio of gram-ions of I.sup.- originating from the ionic iodide to gram-atoms of cobalt of at least 5 and a ratio of gram-atoms of halogen from the halogen-containing promoter to gram-ions of I.sup.- in the range of about 0.001 to about 0.