Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of cis-2-(2-methylprop-1-enyl)-4-methyltetrahydropyran comprising the catalytic hydrogenation of 2-(2-methylprop-1-enyl)-4-methylenetetrahydropyran in the presence of hydrogen and a heterogeneous catalyst comprising ruthenium on a support and subsequently bringing the compounds obtained in this way into contact with a strongly acidic cation exchanger.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of cis-2-(2-methylprop-1-enyl)-4-methyltetrahydropyran comprising the catalytic hydrogenation of 2-(2-methylprop-1-enyl)-4-methylenetetrahydropyran in the presence of hydrogen and a heterogeneous catalyst comprising ruthenium on a support and subsequently bringing the compounds obtained in this way into contact with a strongly acidic cation exchanger.

Abstract: A process for preparing thermoplastic poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) with a molar mass greater than 6 000 g/mol and a melting point in the range from 70 to 170° C., by reacting an oxirane compound with carbon monoxide in the presence of a transition metal catalyst which has rhodium(0), nickel(0), iron(0), cobalt(0) or palladium(0) as central metal and has been chelated with neutral Lewis bases, and also in the presence of diisocyanates, ortho esters, acetals, anhydrides, P2O5, MgO, MgCl2, MgSO4, zeolites, or a mixture of these, at a pressure in the range from 1 to 250 bar and at from room temperature to 150° C.

Abstract: A compound of formula (I) suitable as a catalyst or for the preparation of a catalyst system: L1-X-L2 ??(I) is provided, in which X is a lower alkylene group, an arylene group or an alkarylene group; L1 is in which Y1 is oxygen, sulfur or N—R17, R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, R16 and R17 independently of one another being hydrogen, alkyl or aryl; and L2 is in which Y2 is oxygen, sulfur or N—R27, R21, R22, R23, R24, R25, R26 and R27 independently of one another being hydrogen, alkyl or aryl, it being possible for L1 and L2 to be identical or different.

Abstract: A system comprising a diphosphine of the formula R1>P—(CH)n—PR2R3 where R1 is a divalent radical which together with the phosphorus atom to which it is linked forms an unsubstituted or substituted 2-phosphatricyclo[3.3.1.1{3,7}]decyl group or a derivative thereof in which one or more of the carbon atoms are replaced by heteroatoms, R2, R3 are each, independently of one another, a monovalent radical having from 1 to 20 atoms or together form a divalent radical having from 2 to 20 atoms, n is 4 or 5, and a mixture of such diphosphines, and palladium or a palladium compound is suitable as carbonylation catalyst for the carbonylation of a conjugated diene.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of methyl formate by reacting methanol with carbon monoxide at a pressure of from 0.5 to 10 MPa abs. and a temperature of from 50 to 150° C. in the presence of a metal alkoxide as catalyst in a reactor, in which a gas stream is withdrawn from the reactor, entrained methyl formate is removed from this gas stream by condensation, and all or some of the remaining gas stream is returned to the reactor as circulating-gas stream and a mean gas superficial velocity of from 1 to 20 cm/s is set in at least one region of the reactor in which the gas flows essentially in one direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a catalyst system for carbonylating olefinically or acetylenically unsaturated compounds with carbon monoxide and a nucleophile compound, containing (a) palladium; (b) a phosphine and (c) a polymer containing nitrogen which is soluble in the reaction mixture, with the exception of polyvinyl polymers with aromatic radicals containing nitrogen on the polymer chain. The invention also relates to a method for carbonylation in the presence of one such catalyst system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of methyl formate by reacting methanol with carbon monoxide at a pressure of from 0.5 to 10 MPa abs. and a temperature of from 50 to 150° C. in the presence of a metal alkoxide as catalyst in a reactor, in which a gas stream is withdrawn from the reactor, entrained methyl formate is removed from this gas stream by condensation, and all or some of the remaining gas stream is returned to the reactor as circulating-gas stream and a mean gas superficial velocity of from 1 to 20 cm/s is set in at least one region of the reactor in which the gas flows essentially in one direction.

Abstract: A process is described for preparing acid formates in which methyl formate is reacted with water and a basic compound having a pKa of the conjugate acid of the corresponding dissociation state of ?3 measured at 25° C. in aqueous solution, the methanol formed is separated off and, optionally, the desired acid content is set by adding formic acid.

Abstract: Catalyst systems for the copolymerization of carbon monoxide and ?-olefinically unsaturated compounds contain, as essential components, a) a metal complex of the formula (I) ?where R1 to R4 are each linear or branched C2- to C28-alkyl, C3- to C14-cycloalkyl or alkylaryl where the alkyl moiety is of 1 to 28 carbon atoms and the aryl moiety is of 6 to 15 carbon atoms, each of which is substituted by at least one polar protic or ionic functional group based on elements of groups IVA to VIA of the Periodic Table of Elements, and b) if required, one or more Lewis or protic acids or a mixture of Lewis and protic acids.

Abstract: Process for the carbonylation of n-pentenoic acid or its derivatives of the formula (I) C4H7—R1??(I) where R1 is —CN or COOR2 where R2 is hydrogen, alkyl or aryl by reaction of a compound of the formula (I) with carbon monoxide and a compound (II) containing a hydroxyl group in the presence of a catalyst system, wherein the catalyst system is obtainable by reaction of a) a source for a metal ion of a metal (III) of the 8th subgroup of the Periodic Table of the Elements with b) a bidentate phosphine ligand of the formula (IV) (R3R4R5C)(R6R7R8C)P-L1-X-L2-P(CR9R10R11) (CR12R13R14)??(IV) where R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, R14 independently of one another is an organic radical which in each case contains a carbon atom, via which the respective radical is linked to the relevant tertiary carbon atom mentioned in formula (IV); L1, L2 independently of one another are a lower alkylene group; X is an arylene group.

Abstract: A process is described for preparing acid formates in which methyl formate is reacted with water and a basic compound having a pKa of the conjugate acid of the corresponding dissociation state of ?3 measured at 25° C. in aqueous solution, the methanol formed is separated off and, optionally, the desired acid content is set by adding formic acid.

Abstract: A system comprising a diphosphine of the formula

Abstract: A process for preparing thermoplastic poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) with a molar mass greater than 6 000 g/mol and a melting point in the range from 70 to 170° C., by reacting an oxirane compound with carbon monoxide in the presence of a transition metal catalyst which has rhodium(0), nickel(0), iron(0), cobalt(0) or palladium(0) as central metal and has been chelated with neutral Lewis bases, and also in the presence of diisocyanates, ortho esters, acetals, anhydrides, P2O5, MgO, MgCl2, MgSO4, zeolites, or a mixture of these, at a pressure in the range from 1 to 250 bar and at from room temperature to 150° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of aldehydes in which at least one compound containing a vinyl or vinylidene group is reacted with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a source of a metal from sub-group VIII and in the presence of a bidentate diphosphine ligand, where the diphosphine ligand has the general formula I in which A together with the phosphorus atom to which it is bonded, in each case forms a 2-phosphatricyclo[3.3.1.1{3,7}]decyl radical, in which one or more non-adjacent carbon atoms may be replaced by oxygen atoms and which is substituted or unsubstituted, and X is a bridging chain having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and the molar ratio between the diphosphine ligand and the metal is at least 5. The process gives predominantly n-aldehydes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the carbonylation of n-pentenoic acid or derivatives thereof of formula (I), wherein R1 represents CN or COOR2 and R2 represents hydrogen, alkyl or aryl. According to said method, a compound of formula (I) is reacted with carbon monoxide and a compound (II) containing a hydroxyl group in the presence of a catalyst system. The method is characterised in that the catalyst system is obtained by reacting a) a source of a metallic ion of a metal (III) of the 8th subgroup of the periodic table with b) a bidentate phosphine ligand of formula (IV), wherein R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13 and R14 independently of one another represent an inorganic group, which contains a respective carbon atom, by means of which the respective group is linked to the relevant tertiary carbon atom given in formula (IV), L1, L2 represent independently of one another a lower alkylene group and X represents an arylene group.

Abstract: Catalyst systems for the copolymerization of carbon monoxide and &agr;-olefinically unsaturated compounds contain, as essential components,

Abstract: Dialkyl ketones are prepared by reductive carbonylation of &agr;-olefins by means of carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst system comprising (a) palladium or a palladium compound; (b) a phosphine; (c) a protic acid having a pKa of ≦4.5, measured in aqueous solution at 25° C.; and (d) a solubilizable carboxamide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compound of formula (I) wherein X represents a low alkylen group, an arylene group or an alkarylene group, L1 has formula (II) wherein Y1 represents oxygen, sulphur or N—R17, R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, R16, R17 independently represent hydrogen, alkyl or aryl, L2 has formula (III) wherein Y2 represents oxygen, sulphur or N—R27, R21, R22, R23, R24, R25, R26, R27 independently represent hydrogen, alkyl or aryl wherein L1 and L2 can be identical or different. The inventive compound is suitable for use as a catalyst or for producing a catalyst system.

Abstract: Water-soluble transition metal complexes of the formula (I) where R1 to R4 are linear or branched C2- to C28-alkyl, C3- to C14-cycloalkyl or alkylaryl where the alkyl moiety is of 1 to 28 carbon atoms and the aryl moiety is of 6 to 15 carbon atoms, each of which is substituted by at least one polar protic or ionic functional group based on nonmetallic elements of groups IVA to VIA of the Periodic Table of Elements.