Abstract: An improved fluid for enhanced hydrocarbon recovery in a subterranean oil-bearing reservoir comprising:dissolving a polymer in a surfactant fluid,allowing the mixture to separate and thereafter using the fraction with the highest sulfonate content as surfactant in a flood and thereafter following the use of the surfactant with polymer and water and subsequently forcing said fluids through the formation and recovering said hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A process for preparing aliphatic dicarboxylic acid esters from aliphatic, non-conjugated dienes via carbonylation in the presence of a homogeneous palladium-phosphine catalyst or a palladium-phosphine melt catalyst.

Abstract: A process for producing acetic acid is disclosed which comprises reacting methanol with carbon monoxide at an elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of an iodine-free catalyst system wherein the catalyst consists of ruthenium compound, quaternary phosphonium salt, cobalt-compound and inorganic acid or an organic acid, reacted in combination in a liquid form or a ruthenium on inert solid support catalyst with a sulfur-containing acid promoter.

Abstract: This invention concerns a process for making C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkanols and particularly ethanol which comprises contacting a mixture of CO and H.sub.2 at a pressure of 30 atm or greater and at a temperature of at least 150.degree. C. with a catalyst system comprising a ruthenium-containing compound, a cobalt-containing compound and a manganese-containing compound dispersed in a low melting quaternary phosphonium salt.

Abstract: Amino acid derivatives are synthesized by reacting paraformaldehyde, cyclic amides and synthesis gas with a bimetallic catalyst comprising a rhodium-containing compound and a cobalt-containing compound, optionally in the presence of a solvent at a pressure of at least 500 psi and a temperature of at least 50.degree. C. The novel amino acid products may be hydrolyzed to amino dicarboxylic acids or used as monomers to polyamides.

Abstract: This invention relates to the manufacture of ethylene glycol and more particularly to a low pressure process for making ethylene glycol comprising reacting synthesis gas, i.e. a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, plus formaldehyde in the presence of a homogenous liquid catalyst containing an effective amount of cobalt-containing compound and a silicon-containing promoter at a temperature of at least 50.degree. C. and a pressure of at least 500 psi.

Abstract: This invention relates to the manufacture of ethylene glycol and more particularly to a low pressure process for making ethylene glycol comprising reacting synthesis gas, i.e. a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, plus 1,3-dioxolane in the presence of a homogenous liquid catalyst containing an effective amount of cobalt-containing compound, a silane or germane-containing promoter dispersed in a dioxolane solvent at a temperature of at least 50.degree. C. and a pressure of at least 500 psi.

Abstract: This invention concerns a process for making C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkanols and particularly ethanol which comprises contacting a mixture of CO and H.sub.2 at a pressure of 30 atm or greater and at a temperature of at least 150.degree. C. with a catalyst system comprising a ruthenium-containing compound and a cobalt-containing compound dispersed in a low melting quaternary phosphonium base with an added N-heterocyclic promoter.

Abstract: Carboxylic acids, for example n-butyric and isobutyric are prepared from an olefin such as propylene in a process comprising passing a liquid feed consisting of an olefin, an alkyl halide or heterocyclic amine promoter, a protonic coreactant, and a low concentration of a soluble metal catalyst, optionally in the presence of a solvent, and a gas consisting essentially of carbon monoxide over a carbon bed maintained at a temperature of from about 200.degree. C. to about 400.degree. C. and a pressure of from about 500 psi to about 4000 psi or greater.

Abstract: This invention relates to the manufacture of ethylene glycol and more particularly to a low pressure process for making ethylene glycol comprising reacting synthesis gas, i.e. a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, plus 1,3-dioxolane in the presence of a homogenous liquid catalyst containing an effective amount of cobalt-containing compound and a silane or germane-containing promoter dispersed in a hydrocarbon solvent at a temperature of at least 50.degree. C. and a pressure of at least 500 psi, where the particular solvents used allow the desired product to be separated from the reaction mixture by phase separation.

Abstract: This invention relates to the manufacture of ethylene glcyol and more particularly to a low pressure process for making ethylene glycol comprising reacting synthesis gas, i.e. a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, plus formaldehyde in the presence of a homogeneous liquid catalyst containing an effective amount of cobalt-containing compound and a silicon or germanium-containing promoter and a solvent at a temperature of at least 50.degree. C. and a pressure of at least 500 psi wherein said ethylene glycol product separates as a separate liquid phase from the solvent.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to a process for the preparation of formamides in which ammonia, a primary or a secondary amine is reacted with carbon monoxide at an elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of a mixture consisting of a phenol and a phenate salt from the group consisting of an alkali metal phenate and an alkaline earth metal phenate, said phenol and said phenate salt each having the radical: ##STR1## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl radical having from 3 to 18 carbon atoms and a hydroxyaryl radical of the formula: ##STR2## in which R' is an alkylene group having from 2 to 5 carbon atoms and in which x has a value of 1 to 2 when R is said alkyl radical and x has a value of 1 when R is said hydroxyaryl radical.

Abstract: Ethylene glycol along with ethylene glycol derivatives and alcohols are prepared from syngas in improved yields by contacting a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen with a catalyst system comprising a ruthenium-containing compound and a manganese-containing compound, both dispersed in a low melting quaternary phosphonium compound dissolved in a solvent and heating the resulting reaction mixture at a temperature of at least 150.degree. C. and a pressure of at least 30 atm. for sufficient time to produce the desired ethylene glycol and monohydric alcohols, and then recovering the same from the reaction mixture. A rhodium-containing compound may optionally be used with the ruthenium-containing compound.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the production of formamides, particularly N,N-dimethylformamide and N-methylformamide, by the reaction of synthesis gas with ammonia in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a ruthenium species coupled with quaternary phosphonium salts. The catalyst system typically produces high yields of formamides, a large percentage of which may comprise N,N-dimethylformamide, N-methylformamide or formamide itself.

Abstract: A process for the selective carbonylation of toluene to p-tolualdehyde which comprises mixing an N-alkylpyridinium halide and an anhydrous aluminum halide melt catalyst with toluene, at room temperature of higher and at superatmospheric pressure until the desired tolualdehyde is formed, and separating the desired product.

Abstract: This invention relates to the carbonylation of olefins. More particularly it involves the carbonylation of aliphatic 1-olefins such as propylene and 1-octene to form for example, dimethyl .alpha.-methylsuccinate and dimethyl n-hexyl-succinate by a process comprising reacting said olefin with carbon monoxide and oxygen in the presence of a hetergeneous palladium catalyst, a copper-containing compound and a lithium-containing compound.

Abstract: This invention relates to the carbonylation of olefins. More particularly it involves the carbonylation of aliphatic conjugated diolefins such as 1,3-butadiene to form adipic acid precursors such as, for example, dimethyl hex-3-ene-1,6-dioate by a process comprising reacting said 1,3-butadiene with carbon monoxide and oxygen in the presence of a hetergeneous palladium catalyst, a copper-containing compound and a lithium-containing compound.

Abstract: Secondary and tertiary amines are selectively prepared by a process comprising reacting an olefin, a nitrogen-containing compound and synthesis gas in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a ruthenium-containing compound mixed with a quaternary onium salt, optionally in the presence of a solvent, heating the resultant mixture to a temperature of at least 100.degree. C. and a pressure of at least 100 psi until there is substantial formation of the desired tertiary amine and separating the desired amine by a phase separation technique.

Abstract: A method for preparing 1,6-octadiene by reacting 1,3-butadiene with formic acid in the presence of a platinum(II) catalyst and a polymeric tertiary amine catalyst is described. The combination of a platinum(II) catalyst such as platinum acetylacetonate with a polymeric tertiary amine promoter such as AMBERLYST.RTM. A21 macroreticular ion-exchange resin gives a high selectivity to 1,6-octadiene as opposed to the 1,7-octadiene form. A reaction temperature between 50.degree. and 150.degree. C. is preferred, and carbon dioxide and a solvent may also be employed.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the preparation of acrylic acid precursors by a hydroformylation process which comprises reacting a vinyl ether with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising a rhodium carbonyl compound and a phosphine ligand at a mild temperature and pressure until there is substantial formation of the intermediate 2- and 3-ethoxypropanals, followed by oxidation of said aldehydes and pyrolysis to said acrylic acid.