Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the preparation of optically active aldehydes by the asymmetric catalytic hydroformylation of olefins. The process comprises the hydroformylation of olefinically unsaturated prochiral compounds in the presence of an optically active coordination compound containing a metal which is selected from the group consisting of rhodium, iridium, and cobalt.This invention describes a generalized process for the asymmetric hydroformylation of a wide variety of olefins in which a preponderance of one optical isomer is produced. It is especially useful for the preparation of natural products which may require the presence of only one optical isomer for their utilization, for example, as flavors, fragrances, and medications.The catalyst systems for the process of this invention are formed in the presence of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, from coordination compounds consisting of a central metal atom, rhodium, iridium, or cobalt, and at least one optically active ligand, e.g.

Abstract: Lactic acid is synthesized by a process in which a vinyl ester is hydroformylated to an .alpha.-substituted propionaldehyde by reacting the vinyl ester with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a hydroformylation catalyst and by further converting the .alpha.-substituted carbonyl intermediate via oxidation and hydrolysis to lactic acid.A preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes vinyl acetate as the feed.