Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of an allyl alkyl ether comprising the allylation of an aliphatic hydroxyl containing compound with an allyl source in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst is a transition metal complex with a phosphine ligand, wherein the allylation is carried out in the presence of an acid in an amount of at least 0.1 mol % calculated on the aliphatic hydroxyl containing compound. This invention further provides a process for the preparation of epoxy resins wherein as intermediate use is made of the allyl alkyl ethers prepared by the process of the invention.

Abstract: A process for converting an olefin having x carbon atoms into an olefin having x+1 carbon atoms wherein the process comprises the steps of: (i) reacting an olefin having x carbon atoms with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a hydroformylation catalyst to produce an alcohol having x+1 carbon atoms, and (ii) dehydrating the alcohol produced in step (i) in the presence of a dehydration catalyst to produce an olefin having x+1 carbon atoms characterized in that the hydroformylation catalyst used in step (i) is based on: (a) a source of cobalt, and (b) a ligand which contains phosphorus and nitrogen.

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: The invention provides a process of preparing glycolaldehyde by reacting formaldehyde with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst composition which is based on, a) a source of rhodium, and b) a ligand of general formula R1P—R2(I), wherein R1 is a bivalent radical that together with the phosphorous atom to which it is attached is an optionally substituted 2-phospha-tricyclo[3.3.1.1{3,7}]-decyl group, wherein from 1 to 5 of the carbon atoms has been replaced by a heteroatom, and wherein R2 is a monovalent radical which is an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms; a catalyst composition of use in said process; and a process of preparing ethylene glycol from the glycolaldehyde thus prepared.

Abstract: Process for the telomerization of a conjugated diene, wherein the conjugated diene is reacted with a compound containing an active hydrogen atom and having a formula R?—H in the presence of a telomerization catalyst based on: (a) a source of group VIII metal, (b) a bidentate ligand wherein the bidentate ligand has the general formula I R1R2M1-R-M2R3R4??(I) wherein M1 and M2 are independently P, As or Sb; R1, R2, R3 and R4 independently represent a monovalent aliphatic group; or R1, R2 and M1 together and/or R3, R4 and M2 together independently represent an optionally substituted aliphatic cyclic group with at least 5 ring atoms, of which one is the M1 or M2 atom, respectively; R represents a bivalent organic bridging group; and novel bidentate diphosphines which can be used in this process.

Abstract: The invention provides a process of preparing glycolaldehyde by reacting formaldehyde with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst composition which is based on, a) a source of rhodium, and b) a ligand of general formula R1P—R2(I), wherein R1 is a bivalent radical that together with the phosphorous atom to which it is attached is an optionally substituted 2-phospha-tricyclo[3.3.1.1{3,7}]-decyl group, wherein from 1 to 5 of the carbon atoms has been replaced by a heteroatom, and wherein R2 is a monovalent radical which is an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms; a catalyst composition of use in said process; and a process of preparing ethylene glycol from the glycolaldehyde thus prepared.

Abstract: The invention provides a process of preparing glycolaldehyde by reacting formaldehyde with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst composition which is based on, a) a source of rhodium, and b) a ligand of general formula R1P—R2(I), wherein R1 is a bivalent radical that together with the phosphorous atom to which it is attached is an optionally substituted 2-phospha-tricyclo[3.3.1.1{3,7}]-decyl group, wherein from 1 to 5 of the carbon atoms has been replaced by a heteroatom, and wherein R2 is a monovalent radical which is an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms; a catalyst composition of use in said process; and a process of preparing ethylene glycol from the glycolaldehyde thus prepared.

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: Process for the hydroformylation of an optionally substituted ethylenically unsaturated compound by reaction thereof with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a specific catalyst system which includes a source of Group VIII metal cations; a diphosphine ligand having the general formula (I): X1—R—X2 ??(I) wherein X1 and X2 each independently represent an optionally substituted cyclic group with at least 5 ring atoms, of which one is a phosphorus atom, and R represents a bivalent optionally substituted bridging group which is connected to each phosphorus atom by a sp2 hybridized carbon atom; an acid having a pKa<3; and a source of halide anions.

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).

Abstract: A process for converting an olefin having x carbon atoms into an olefin having x+1 carbon atoms wherein the process comprises the steps of: (i) reacting an olefin having x carbon atoms with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a hydroformylation catalyst to produce an alcohol having x+1 carbon atoms, and (ii) dehydrating the alcohol produced in step (i) in the presence of a dehydration catalyst to produce an olefin having x+1 carbon atoms characterised in that the the hydroformylation catalyst used in step (i) is based on: (a) a source of cobalt, and (b) a ligand which contains phosphorus and nitrogen.

Abstract: A process for the hydrocarboxylation of an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, by reacting it with carbon monoxide and a co-reactant selected from the group of water and carboxylic acids in the presence of a catalyst system including: (a) a source of palladium; (b) a bidentate diphosphine of formula (I), R1R2>P—R3—R—R4—P<R5R6 (I) wherein P represents a phosphorus atom; R1, R2, R5 and R6 independently represent the same or different optionally substituted organic groups containing a tertiary carbon atom through which the group is linked to the phosphorus atom; R3 and R4 independently represent optionally substituted alkylene groups and R represents an optionally substituted aromatic group; (c) a source of anions derived from an acid having a pKa of less than 3, as measured at 18° C. in an aqueous solution.

Abstract: The invention provides a process of preparing glycolaldehye by reacting formaldehyde with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst composition which is based on, a) a source of rhodium, and b) a ligand of general formula R1P—R2(I), wherein R1 is a bivalent radical that together with the phosphorous atom to which it is attached is an optionally substituted 2-phospha-tricyclo[3.3.1.1{3,7}]-decyl group, wherein from 1 to 5 of the carbon atoms has been replaced by a heteroatom, and wherein R2 is a monovalent radical which is an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms; a catalyst composition of use in said process; and a process of preparing ethylene glycol from the glycolaldehyde thus prepared.

Abstract: Process for the hydroformylation of an optionally substituted ethylenically unsaturated compound by reaction thereof with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a specific catalyst system. The specific catalyst system comprises: (a) a source of group VIII metal cations; (b) a diphosphine ligand having the general formula I X1—R—X2??(I) wherein X1 and X2 each independently represent an optionally substituted cyclic group with at least 5 ring atoms, of which one is a phosphorus atom, and R represents a bivalent optionally substituted bridging group, connected to each phosphorus atom by a sp2 hybridized carbon atom; (c) an acid having a pKa<3, measured in an aqueous solution at 18° C. or a salt derived thereof; and (d) a source of halide anions. Furthermore some specific bidentate diphosphines used in this process are described.

Abstract: A catalyst composition suitable for the trimerization of olefinic monomers, wherein the catalyst composition comprises: a) a source of chromium, molybdenum or tungsten; b) a ligand of general formula (I); (R1)(R2)P—X—P(R3)(R4)??(I) wherein: X is a bivalent organic bridging group; R1 and R3 are independently selected from, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl and substituted heterohydrocarbyl groups, with the proviso that when R1 and R3 are cycloaromatic groups they do not contain a polar substituent at any of the ortho-positions; R2 and R4 are independently selected from optionally substituted cycloaromatic groups, each R2 and R4 bearing a polar substituent on at least one of the ortho-positions; and c) a cocatalyst.

Abstract: A process for the carbonylation of unsaturated compounds by contacting the unsaturated compound with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst system comprising: (a) a source of palladium and/or platinum; and (b) an unsymmetrical bidentate diphosphine ligand of formula I, R1R2>P1?R3?P2<R4R5??(I) wherein P1 and P2 represent phosphorus atoms; R3 represents a divalent organic bridging group; and R1, R2, R4 and R5 each individually, or R1 and R2 jointly, and/or R4 and R5 jointly represent organic groups that are covalently linked to the phosphorus; and wherein R1, R2, R4 and R5 are chosen in such way, that the phosphino group R1R2>P1 differs from the phosphino group P2<R4R5.

Abstract: Process for the hydroformylation of an optionally substituted ethylenically unsaturated compound by reaction thereof with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a specific catalyst system which includes a source of Group VIII metal cations; a diphosphine ligand having the general formula (I): X1—R—X2 ??(I) wherein X1 and X2 each independently represent an optionally substituted cyclic group with at least 5 ring atoms, of which one is a phosphorus atom, and R represents a bivalent optionally substituted bridging group which is connected to each phosphorus atom by a sp2 hybridized carbon atom; an acid having a pKa<3; and a source of halide anions.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a hydroformylation process for the conversion of an ethylenically unsaturated compound to an alcohol comprising a first step of reacting at an elevated temperature in a reactor the ethylenically unsaturated compound, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and a phosphine-containing cobalt hydroformylation catalyst, which are dissolved in a solvent, followed by a second step of separating a mixture comprising the alcohol and heavy ends from a solution comprising the catalyst and the solvent, followed by a third step of recycling the solution to the reactor.