Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst system capable of catalyzing the carbonylation of an ethylenically unsaturated compound, which system is obtainable by combining: a) a metal of Group VIB or Group VIIIB or a compound thereof, b) a bidentate phosphine, arsine or stibine ligand, and c) an acid, wherein the ligand is present in at least a 2:1 molar excess compared to the metal or the metal in the metal compound, and that the acid is present in at least a 2:1 molar excess compared to the ligand, a process for the carbonylation of an ethylenically unsaturated compound, a reaction medium, and use of the system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst system capable of catalysing the carbonylation of an ethylenically unsaturated compound, which system is obtainable by combining: a) a metal of Group VIB or Group VIIIB or a compound thereof, b) a bidentate phosphine, arsine or stibine ligand, and c) an acid, wherein said ligand is present in at least a 2:1 molar excess compared to said metal or said metal in said metal compound, and that said acid is present in at least a 2:1 molar excess compared to said ligand, a process for the carbonylation of an ethylenically unsaturated compound, a reaction medium, and use of the system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst system capable of catalyzing the carbonylation of an ethylenically unsaturated compound, which system is obtainable by combining: a) a metal of Group VIB or Group VIIIB or a compound thereof, b) a bidentate phosphine, arsine or stibine ligand, and c) an acid, wherein said ligand is present in at least a 2:1 molar excess compared to said metal or said metal in said metal compound, and that said acid is present in at least a 2:1 molar excess compared to said ligand, a process for the carbonylation of an ethylenically unsaturated compound, a reaction medium, and use of the system.

Abstract: A continuous carbonylation process for high turnover carbonylation, and a carbonylation reaction medium and product stream thereof. The process comprises carbonylating an ethlenically unsaturated compound with carbon monoxide in the presence of a source of hydroxyl groups and a catalyst system. The catalyst system comprising: (a) a bidentate phosphine, arsine or stibine ligand; and (b) a catalytic metal selected from a group VIB or group VIIIB metal or a compound thereof. The catalytically active concentration of said catalytic metal, measured as the ACCF (product Kg·hr?1·Dm?3), is maintained at less than 0.5.

Abstract: A vinyl ester alkoxycarbonylation process comprising reacting a vinyl ester with carbon monoxide in the presence of an alkanol and a catalyst system. The catalyst system used is obtainable by combining: a) a metal of Group VIII B or a compound thereof, and b) a bidentate ligand of general formula (I) R is a covalent bridging group; R1 together with Q2 to which form an optionally substituted 2-Q2-tricyclo[3.3.1.1{3,7}]decyl group or derivative thereof (2-PA); R2 and R3 independently represent univalent radicals up to 20 atoms or jointly form a bivalent radical of up to 20 atoms; and Q1 and Q2 each independently represent phosphorous, arsenic or antimony. The process is carried out for the production of a 3-hydroxy propanoate ester or acid of formula (II) CH2(OH)CH2C(O)OR28??(II). or for the production of a lactate ester or acid of formula III.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the hydroformylation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds, which process comprises reacting said ethylenically unsaturated compound with carbon monoxide and hydrogen, in the presence of a catalyst system and a solvent, the catalyst system obtainable by combining: a) a metal of Group VIII or a compound thereof; and b) a bidentate phosphine, the process characterized in that a chlorine moiety is present in at least one of the said Group VIII metal compound or said solvent.

Abstract: A catalyst suitable for carbonylating ethylenically unsaturated compounds comprising a Group VIIIB metal or compound thereof and a metallocene.

Abstract: A process for the alkoxycarbonylation of a vinyl ester comprising reacting a vinyl ester with carbon monoxide in the presence of an alkanol and a catalyst system. The catalyst system used in the said process is obtainable by combining: a) a metal of Group VIII B or a compound thereof, and b) a bidentate ligand of general formula (I) wherein, R is a covalent bridging group; R1 together with Q2 to which it is attached form an optionally substituted 2-Q2-tricyclo[3.3.1.1 {3,7}]decyl group or derivative thereof(2-PA); R2 and R3 independently represent univalent radicals up to 20 atoms or jointly form a bivalent radical of up to 20 atoms; and Q1 and Q2 each independently represent phosphorous, arsenic or antimony. The process is carried out for the production of a 3-hydroxy propanoate ester or acid of formula (II) CH2 (OH)CH2 C(O) OR28.The process may also be carried out for the production of a lactate ester or acid of formula (III).

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the hydroformylation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds, which process comprises reacting said ethylenically unsaturated compound with carbon monoxide and hydrogen, in the presence of a catalyst system and a solvent, the catalyst system obtainable by combining: a) a metal of Group VIII or a compound thereof; and b) a bidentate phosphine, the process characterised in that a chlorine moiety is present in at least one of the said Group VIII metal compound or said solvent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst system capable of catalysing the carbonylation of an ethylenically unsaturated compound, which system is obtainable by combining: a) a metal of Group VIB or Group VIIIB or a compound thereof, b) a bidentate phosphine, arsine or stibine ligand, and c) an acid, wherein said ligand is present in at least a 2:1 molar excess compared to said metal or said metal in said metal compound, and that said acid is present in at least a 2:1 molar excess compared to said ligand, a process for the carbonylation of an ethylenically unsaturated compound, a reaction medium, and use of the system.

Abstract: A catalyst suitable for carbonylating ethylenically unsaturated compounds comprising a Group VIIIB metal or compound thereof and a metallocene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the carbonylation of an ester, specifically vinyl acetate. The process comprises the carbonylation of vinyl acetate comprising reacting vinyl acetate with carbon monoxide in the presence of a source of hydroxyl groups and of a catalyst system, the catalyst system obtainable by combining: (c) a metal of Group VIII B or a compound thereof: and (d) a bidentate phosphine of general formula (I). A process for the production of a lactate ester or acid of formula (II), comprising the steps of carbonylating vinyl acetate with carbon monoxide in the presence of a source of hydroxyl groups and of a catalyst system is also described. A process for the production of 3-hydroxy propanoate ester or acid of formula (III) comprising the steps of: carbonylating vinyl acetate with carbon monoxide in the presence of a source of hydroxyl groups and of a catalyst system also forms an aspect of the invention.

Abstract: A process for the carbonylation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds is described. The process comprises reacting an ethylenically unsaturated compound with carbon monoxide in the presence of a source of hydroxyl groups and a catalyst system. The catalyst system is obtained by combining: (a) metal of Group VIII or a compound thereof; and (b) a bidentate phosphine of general formula (I) The carbonylation reaction is carried out at a temperature of between ?30° C. to 49° C. and under a CO partial pressure of less than 30×105 N.m?2.

Abstract: A catalyst system capable of catalysing the carbonylation of an olefinally unsaturated compound is described. The 5 catalyst system is obtainable by combining: (a) a metal of Group VIB or Group VIII B or a compound thereof; and (b) a bidentate phosphine of general formula (I) Ad)s(CR4R5R6)TQ2-A-(K,D)Ar(E,Z)-B-Q1(Ad)u(CR1R2R3)v. Ad represents an optionally substituted adamantyl radical bonded to the phosphorous atom via any one of its tertiary carbon atoms. A method of production of the catalyst is also illustrated.