Abstract: A process for the preparation of methanol by contacting CO and H.sub.2 with a novel catalytic system formed by combining (a) a nickel salt of a carboxylic acid having a pK.sub.a >4.76, (b) an alcohol, and (c) a hydride of an alkali metal or of an alkaline earth metal.

Abstract: A process for the hydrogenation of esters into alcohols which comprises converting esters of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl group and preferably an alkyl group containing 1-20 carbon atoms or an aryl alkyl group containing 1-6 carbon atoms in the alkyl residue, the aryl being preferably phenyl, and R.sub.2 is a hydrocarbyl group as specified hereinbefore for R.sub.1, in the presence of hydrogen and carbon monoxide and a catalyst system, obtainable by combining the following components(a) a hydride of an alkali metal and/or a hydride of an alkaline earth metal,(b) an alcohol or an alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal alcoholate thereof, and(c) a compound containing a cation of an element of Group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements,and allowing these components to react.

Abstract: Process for the selective oxidative carbonylation of a conjugated diene with carbon monoxide and an alcohol in a quantity of at least 2 mol equivalents per mol diene, in the presence of a catalyst system which comprises the following components:(a) a compound of a metal, selected from one or more platinum group metals,(b) an oxidizing agent in the form of quinone and/or derivatives thereof, and(c) a compound of a metal, selected from manganese or vanadium.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of methanol by contacting CO and H.sub.2 with a novel catalytic system formed by combining (a) a nickel salt having a pK.sub.a <4.70, (b) an alcohol, and (c) a hydride of an alkali metal or of an alkaline earth metal.

Abstract: The invention is a linear random terpolymer comprised of repeating units of --CO--(C.sub.2 H.sub.4)-- and units of --CO--(C.sub.x H.sub.y)-- where x is greater than 2 and less than 20, having a melting point between about 150.degree. C. and about 245.degree. C. The invention also concerns a process to prepare a polymer having a melting point less than about 245.degree. C. which comprises contacting carbon monoxide and ethylene in the presence of one or more hydrocarbons C.sub.x H.sub.y containing an olefinically unsaturated --CH.dbd.CH-- group, where x is greater than 2 and less than 20, with a suitable catalyst and under conditions effective to prepare a linear random polymer having units of the formula --CO--(C.sub.2 H.sub.4)-- and units of the general formula --CO--(C.sub.x H.sub.y)--, and having a melting point less than about 245.degree. C.

Abstract: Process for preparing adipic acid or esters thereof by:(1) reacting 1,3-butadiene with CO and water or an alcohol with formation of pentenoic acid or esters thereof in the presence of a first carbonylation catalyst comprising a Pd compound and a polydentate ligand containing P, As or Sb,(2) isolating pentenoic acid or esters thereof from the reaction mixture, and(3) reacting the isolated pentenoic acid or esters with CO and water or an alcohol in the presence of a second carbonylation catalyst.

Abstract: A process for the dimerization of alpha-alkenes having 2 to 12 carbon atoms in the presence of an alkanediol solvent and of a novel catalytic system formed by combining:(a) a palladium(II) compound,(b) a chelate ligand comprising a compound containing at least two N coordinating atoms which are connected through a chain comprising two C atoms, >2.0 mol chelate ligand per gram-atom Pd being used, p1 (c) a protonic acid, except hydrohalogenic acids, and(d) a salt of Cu, Fe, Zn, Sn, Mn, V, Al or a group VIB metal, except a halide.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions that may be used as catalysts for the preparation of polymers of carbon monoxide and at least one olefinically unsaturated organic compound. The invention also relates to a process using the catalyst compositions of the invention to prepare said polymers. The process comprises contacting the monomers in the presence of a catalyst obtained from the reaction of (a) a Group VIII metal compound with (b) a bidentate phosphorus, arsenic or antimony ligand, (c) a compound selected from the group consisting of non-noble transition metal salts having an anion of a non-hydrohalogenic acid with a pKa less than 6, and (d) a quinone.

Abstract: Polymers of carbon monoxide and at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon, e.g., ethylene, are produced in the presence of novel catalyst compositions formed from a palladium compound, an anion of a non-hydrohalogenic acid having a pKa less than about 2 and certain bidentate ligands containing atoms of phosphorus and nitrogen.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions that may be used as catalysts for the preparation of polymers of carbon monoxide and at least one olefinically unsaturated organic compound. The invention also relates to a process using the catalyst compositions of the invention to prepare said polymers. The process comprises contacting the monomers in the presence of a catalyst obtained from the reaction of (a) a Group VIII metal compound with (b) a bidentate phosphorus, arsenic or antimony ligand, (c) a compound selected from the group consisting of a main group metal salt having an anion of a non-hydrohalogenic acid with a pKa less than 6, and (d) an ether.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of linear alternating polymers of carbon monoxide and at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon employs a catalyst composition formed from a palladium salt and a phosphino-substituted sulfonic acid.

Abstract: Carbon monoxide and at least one olefinically unsaturated organic compound may be polymerized by contacting the monomers in the presence of a catalyst which comprises a Group VIII metal compound of palladium, cobalt or nickel, a halide of tin or germanium, a nitrogen bidentate ligand and an organic oxidant. The polymers prepared are linear alternating polymers which consist of units with the formula ##STR1## where A is the residue of an alkenically unsaturated organic compound monomer.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions that may be used as catalysts for the preparation of polymers of carbon monoxide and at least one olefinically unsaturated organic compound. The invention also relates to a process using the catalyst compositions of the invention to prepare said polymers. The process comprises contacting the monomers in the presence of a catalyst obtained from the reaction of (a) a Group VIII metal compound with (b) a bidentate phosphorous, arsenic or antimony ligand, (c) a non-hydrohalogenic acid with a pKa less than 6, and (d) a quinone.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of oxo-alkanedioic acids or diesters thereof by reacting an alkenoic acid or an ester thereof, at least one of the C atoms of the carbon carbon double bond carrying a H atom, with CO and H.sub.2 in the presence of a catalytic system prepared by combining:a. Pd and/or a Pd compound,b. a compound containing an anion of an acid having a pKa of less than 2, except hydrohalogenic acid and carboxylic acids, andc. a bidentate ligandR.sup.1 R.sup.2 --M--R--M--R.sup.3 R.sup.4wherein M is P, As or Sb, R is a divalent organic bridging group having at least two C atoms in the bridge, and R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are optionally substituted hydrocarbon groups.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of linear alternating polymers of carbon monoxide and at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon comprises contacting under polymerization conditions the carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon in the presence of a catalyst composition formed from a compound of certain Group VIII metals, e.g., palladium, an anion of a non-hydrohalogenic acid having a pKa above about 2 but below about 6, and a bidentate ligand of phosphorus wherein at least one of the monovalent phosphorus substituents is aromatic and substituted in a position ortho to the phosphorus with a polar substitutent.

Abstract: Novel copolymers and terpolymers are produced from carbon monoxide, a functionally-substituted ethylenically unsaturated compound wherein the functional substituent is separated from the ethylenic unsaturation by a divalent bridging group of at least one carbon, and optionally an ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon. The polymerization is conducted under polymerization conditions in the presence of a catalyst composition formed from a palladium compound, the anion of a non-hydrohalogenic acid having a pKa less than about 6 and a bidentate ligand of phosphorus or of nitrogen.

Abstract: Copolymers of ethylene and CO(polyketones) are produced by copolymerization in the presence of a catalyst comprising palladium, cobalt or nickel, a bidentate phosphine ligand and a non-coordinating anion, e.g., derived from p-toluene sulfonic acid.

Abstract: A process for preparing esters of alpha-ethylenically unsaturated alcohols and alpha-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids by reacting an acetylenically unsaturated compound with CO and a ketone containing a group HC--C(.dbd.O), using a Pd(II) catalyst, a triphenylphosphine in which the phenyl groups carry an electron-withdrawing substituent and a non-carboxylic protonic acid having a pK.sub.a not greater than 1.5.

Abstract: Linear alternating copolymers of carbon monoxide and at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon are produced in the presence of novel catalysts formed from a Group VIII metal compound, an anion of a non-hydrohalogenic acid having a pKa above about 2 but below about 4, and certain bidentate ligands of phosphorus.

Abstract: The invention relates to compositions that may be used as catalysts for the preparation of polymers of carbon monoxide and at least one olefinically unsaturated organic compound. The invention also relates to a process using the catalyst compositions of the invention to prepare said polymers. The process comprises contacting the monomers in the presence of a catalyst obtained from the reaction of (a) a Group VIII metal compound with (b) a bidentate phosphorus, arsenic or antimony ligand, (c) a non-hydrohalogenic acid with a pKa less than 6, and (d) a quinone.