Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing hydroformylation products of olefins having at least four carbon atoms, in which a high proportion of both the linear Ci-olefins having a terminal double bond comprised in the olefin-comprising feed used and of the linear Ci-olefins having an internal double bond is converted into hydroformylation products. Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for preparing 2-propylheptanol which comprises such a hydroformylation process.

Abstract: A process is described for preparing phthalic anhydride by catalytic gas phase oxidation of o-xylene, in, in a main reactor, a gaseous mixture of o-xylene and an oxygenous gas is passed through at least two reaction zones whose temperature can be controlled independently, and converted to a gaseous intermediate reaction product which comprises unconverted o-xylene, phthalic anhydride underoxidation products and phthalic anhydride, and the intermediate reaction product is introduced into a postreactor, wherein the temperature of the reaction zones in the main reactor is regulated in such a way that the concentration of unconverted o-xylene in the intermediate reaction product is at least 0.5% by weight. The process allows an increase in the overall yield of phthalic anhydride without or without significant deterioration in the product quality.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the hydroformylation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds by reaction with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalytically active fluid which comprises a dissolved metal complex of a metal of transition group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements with at least one phosphoramidite compound as ligand, wherein the fluid is brought into contact with a base.

Abstract: A process is described for preparing phthalic anhydride by catalytic gas phase oxidation of o-xylene, in which a gaseous mixture of o-xylene and an oxygenous gas is converted in a main reactor to a gaseous intermediate reaction product which comprises unconverted o-xylene, phthalic anhydride underoxidation products and phthalic anhydride, the heat of reaction which arises in the main reactor being removed at least partly by indirect cooling with a heat carrier medium, and the intermediate reaction product being introduced into a postreactor. The concentration of unconverted o-xylene in the intermediate reaction product is at least 1% by weight, and the sum of the concentrations of phthalic anhydride underoxidation products in the intermediate reaction product is at least 0.5% by weight. The process allows an increase in the overall yield of phthalic anhydride without or without significant deterioration in the product quality.

Abstract: What is described is a method for starting a gas phase oxidation reactor that contains a bed of a first catalyst whose active material comprises a catalytically active silver-vanadium oxide bronze, and at least one bed of a second catalyst whose catalytically active material comprises vanadium pentoxide and titanium dioxide, and whose temperature is controllable by means of a heat transfer medium. In the operating state, a gas stream which comprises a loading cop of a hydrocarbon and molecular oxygen is passed through the reactor over the bed of the first and second catalyst at a temperature Top of the heat transfer medium. For the startup, a) a gas stream is passed through the reactor with a starting loading c0 which is less than cop, and at a starting temperature T0 of the heat transfer medium which is less than Top, and b) the temperature of the heat transfer medium is brought to Top and the loading of the gas stream to cop.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for asymmetric synthesis in the presence of a chiral catalyst comprising at least one complex of a metal of transition group VIII with ligands capable of dimerization via noncovalent bonds, such catalysts and their use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing hydroformylation products of olefins having at least four carbon atoms, in which a high proportion of both the linear Ci-olefins having a terminal double bond comprised in the olefin-comprising feed used and of the linear Ci-olefins having an internal double bond is converted into hydroformylation products. Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for preparing 2-propylheptanol which comprises such a hydroformylation process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for asymmetric synthesis in the presence of a chiral catalyst comprising at least one complex of a metal of transition group VIII with ligands capable of dimerization via noncovalent bonds, such catalysts and their use.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the continuous production of aldehydes by the isomerising hydroformylation in a homogenous phase of olefin compositions by means of a synthesis gas, in the presence of a homogeneous rhodium catalyst that is complexed with an organophosphorus ligand containing oxygen atoms and/or nitrogen atoms and a free ligand. The production is carried out at high temperature and high pressure in a multi-stage reaction system consisting of at least two reaction zones. According to the method, the olefin composition is first reacted in a first reaction zone or a group of several first reaction zones at a total pressure of between 10 and 40 bar, using a synthesis gas with a CO/H2 molar ratio of between 4:1 and 1:2 until a 40 to 95% conversion of the ?-olefins is obtained.

Abstract: A process is described for preparing phthalic anhydride by catalytic gas phase oxidation of o-xylene. In, in a main reactor, a gaseous mixture of o-xylene and an oxygenous gas is passed through at least two reaction zones whose temperature can be controlled independently, and converted to a gaseous intermediate reaction product which comprises unconverted o-xylene, phthalic anhydride underoxidation products and phthalic anhydride, and the intermediate reaction product is introduced into a postreactor, wherein the temperature of the reaction zones in the main reactor is regulated in such a way that the concentration of unconverted o-xylene in the intermediate reaction product is at least 0.5% by weight. The process allows an increase in the overall yield of phthalic anhydride without or without significant deterioration in the product quality.

Abstract: A process is described for preparing phthalic anhydride by catalytic gas phase oxidation of o-xylene, in which a gaseous mixture of o-xylene and an oxygenous gas is converted in a main reactor to a gaseous intermediate reaction product which comprises unconverted o-xylene, phthalic anhydride underoxidation products and phthalic anhydride, the heat of reaction which arises in the main reactor being removed at least partly by indirect cooling with a heat carrier medium, and the intermediate reaction product being introduced into a postreactor. The concentration of unconverted o-xylene in the intermediate reaction product is at least 1% by weight, and the sum of the concentrations of phthalic anhydride underoxidation products in the intermediate reaction product is at least 0.5% by weight. The process allows an increase in the overall yield of phthalic anhydride without or without significant deterioration in the product quality.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for asymmetric synthesis in the presence of a chiral catalyst comprising at least one complex of a metal of transition group VIII with ligands capable of dimerization via noncovalent bonds, such catalysts and their use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for asymmetric synthesis in the presence of a chiral catalyst comprising at least one complex of a metal of transition group VIII with ligands capable of dimerization via noncovalent bonds, such catalysts and their use.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the continuous production of aldehydes comprising between 5 and 21 carbon atoms, by the isomerising hydroformylation in a homogenous phase of olefin compositions comprising between 4 and 20 carbon atoms and containing ?-olefins and olefins with internal double bonds, by means of a synthesis gas, in the presence of a homogeneous rhodium catalyst that is complexed with an organophosphorus ligand containing oxygen atoms and/or nitrogen atoms and a free ligand. Said production is carried out at high temperature and high pressure in a multi-stage reaction system consisting of at least two reaction zones. According to said method, the olefin composition is first reacted in a first reaction zone or a group of several first reaction zones at a total pressure of between 10 and 40 bar, using a synthesis gas with a CO/H2 molar ratio of between 4:1 and 1:2 until a 40 to 95% conversion of the ?-olefins is obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing dialdehydes and/or ethylenically unsaturated monoaldehydes by reacting at least one compound with at least two ethylenically unsaturated double bonds with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a hydroformylating catalyst with at least one complex of a metal of subgroup VIII. The subgroup comprises at least pnicogen chelate ligands.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the hydroformylation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds by reaction with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalytically active fluid which comprises a dissolved metal complex of a metal of transition group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements with at least one phosphoramidite compound as ligand, wherein the fluid is brought into contact with a base.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for hydroformylating in the presence of a catalyst comprising at least one complex of a metal of transition group VIII with mono-phosphorus compounds which are capable of dimerizing via noncovalent bonds as ligands, to such catalysts and to their use.

Abstract: The invention relates to phosphacyclohexanes of general formulae I and II, wherein the following designations, among others, apply: R can represent hydrogen, C1-100-alkyl, C7-20-aralkyl, C7-20-alkaryl, and C6-12-aryl: R1 to R10 can independently represent hydrogen, C1-20-alkyl, C7-20-aralkyl, C7-20-alkaryl, and C6-12-aryl: W, W? can independently represent single bonds or bridges comprising 1 to 20 carbon atoms, which can form part of a cyclic or aromatic group and can be interrupted by heteroatoms. Said phosphacyclohexanes are used as ligands in transition metal complexes of transition metals belonging to groups VIII to X of the periodic table.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing dialdehydes and/or ethylenically unsaturated monoaldehydes by reacting at least one compound with at least two ethylenically unsaturated double bonds with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a hydroformylating catalyst with at least one complex of a metal of subgroup VIII. The subgroup comprises at least pnicogen chelate ligands.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for hydroformylating in the presence of a catalyst comprising at least one complex of a metal of transition group VIII with mono-phosphorus compounds which are capable of dimerizing via noncovalent bonds as ligands, to such catalysts and to their use.