Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising the following steps: a) providing a composition, which comprises a surfactant which is a compound of the formula (I) R—O—[R?—O]x—X, wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group having a weight average carbon number of from 13 to 30, R?—O is an alkylene oxide group, x is the number of alkylene oxide groups R?—O, and X is selected from the group consisting of: (i) a group comprising a sulfate moiety; (ii) a group comprising a carboxylate moiety; and (iii) a group comprising a sulfonate moiety, to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation, wherein the hydrocarbon containing formation comprises a crude oil which has a weight ratio of saturates to aromatics of from 0.6 to 5.0; and b) allowing the surfactant from the composition to interact with the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided an organophosphine ligand comprising a phosphabicyclohydrocarbyl group in which the phosphorus atom is further substituted with a hydrocarbyl or heterohydrocarbyl moiety containing at least one branch at the ?-carbon position. The present invention also provides a catalytic composition for the hydroformylation of an ethylenically unsaturated compound, said catalytic composition comprising i) a source of Group VIII metal cations; and ii) the above ligand. Furthermore, the present invention also provides a process for the hydroformylation of an ethylenically unsaturated compound, said process comprising contacting the ethylenically unsaturated compound with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence the above catalytic composition.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided an organophosphine ligand comprising a phosphabicyclohydrocarbyl group in which the phosphorus atom is further substituted with a hydrocarbyl or heterohydrocarbyl moiety containing at least one branch at the ?-carbon position. The present invention also provides a catalytic composition for the hydroformylation of an ethylenically unsaturated compound, said catalytic composition comprising i) a source of Group VIII metal cations; and ii) the above ligand. Furthermore, the present invention also provides a process for the hydroformylation of an ethylenically unsaturated compound, said process comprising contacting the ethylenically unsaturated compound with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence the above catalytic composition.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a dicarboxylic acid, comprising the steps of (a) contacting a conjugated diene with carbon monoxide and water in the presence of a catalyst system including a source of palladium, a source of an anion and a bidentate phosphine ligand, to obtain a mixture containing an ethylenically unsaturated acid and one or more reversible adduct of the conjugated diene and the ethylenically unsaturated acid; and (b) removing unreacted conjugated diene, and the reversible adducts of the conjugated diene from the reaction mixture; and (c) reacting the mixture obtained in step (b) containing the ethylenically unsaturated acid further with carbon monoxide and water to obtain the dicarboxylic acid.

Abstract: A process for the carbonylation of a conjugated diene to a dicarboxylic acid, comprising the steps of (a) contacting a conjugated diene with carbon monoxide and water in the presence of a catalyst system including a source of palladium, a source of an anion and a bidentate phosphine ligand, to obtain a mixture comprising an ethylenically unsaturated acid and reversible diene adducts; (b) separating the obtained reaction mixture into a gaseous stream comprising unreacted conjugated diene and carbon monoxide, a first normally liquid stream comprising at least part of the ethylenically unsaturated acid and the reversible diene adducts, and a second normally liquid stream comprising the catalyst system in admixture with the ethylenically unsaturated acid; (c) recycling the second liquid stream obtained in step (b) to step (a); (d) separating the first liquid product stream obtained in step (b) into a stream comprising the ethylenically unsaturated acid and a stream comprising the reversible diene adducts; and (e)

Abstract: A process for the carbonylation of a conjugated diene to an ethylenically unsaturated acid, comprising the steps of (a) contacting a conjugated diene with carbon monoxide and water in the presence of a catalyst system including a source of palladium, a source of an anion and a bidentate phosphine ligand, to obtain a mixture comprising an ethylenically unsaturated acid and a reversible diene adduct comprising alkenyl ester of the conjugated diene with the ethylenically unsaturated acid; (b) separating the obtained reaction mixture into a gaseous stream comprising unreacted conjugated diene and carbon monoxide, a first liquid product stream comprising at least part of the ethylenically unsaturated acid and the reversible diene adducts, and a second liquid stream comprising the catalyst system in admixture with the ethylenically unsaturated acid; (c) separating the first liquid product stream obtained in step (b) into a stream comprising the ethylenically unsaturated acid and a stream comprising the reversible d

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a saturated dicarboxylic acid, comprising the steps of (a) contacting a conjugated diene with carbon monoxide and water to obtain a mixture containing an ethylenically unsaturated acid product and one or more reversible adducts of the conjugated diene and the ethylenically unsaturated acid; and (b) reacting the ethylenically unsaturated acid product further with carbon monoxide and water to obtain the dicarboxylic acid, wherein step (a) and (b) are performed in the presence of a catalyst system including a source of palladium, a source of an anion and a bidentate phosphine ligand, and wherein in step (a) the water concentration is maintained at a range of from 0.001 to less than 3% by weight of water, calculated on the overall weight of the liquid reaction medium, and wherein in step (b) the water concentration is maintained at a range of from 3% to 50% by weight of water, calculated on the overall weight of the liquid reaction medium.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a dicarboxylic acid, comprising the steps of (a) contacting a conjugated diene with carbon monoxide and water in the presence of a catalyst system including a source of palladium, a source of an anion and a bidentate phosphine ligand, to obtain a mixture comprising an ethylenically unsaturated acid product; (b) reacting the mixture obtained in step (a) further with carbon monoxide and water to obtain the dicarboxylic acid in admixture with the ethylenically unsaturated acid; (c) separating the dicarboxylic acid from a liquid filtrate comprising the catalyst system; and (d) recycling at least part of the obtained liquid filtrate to step (a).