Abstract: For the preparation of predominantly unbranched higher primary alcohols, olefins from the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis are reacted with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of water and a catalyst which is rhodium, in metallic form or as a compound, and a water-soluble phosphine. The reaction product obtained is hydrogenated. The water-soluble phosphines employed are compounds whose anion is a phosphine containing at least one sulfonated or carboxylated aromatic radical and whose cation is a quaternary ammonium or phosphonium ion.

Abstract: A process for preparing aldehydes by hydroformylating olefinically unsaturated compounds in the presence of a water-insoluble catalyst composition comprising rhodium complexes containing diphosphine ligands, wherein the diphosphine ligands present are compounds of the formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of carboxylate (COO.sup.-), sulfonate (SO.sub.3.sup.-), phosphonate (PO.sub.3.sup.2-) and 2-anmino ethtanebisphosphonate, R.sup.

Abstract: A water-soluble catalyst composition comprising rhodium complexes containing diphosphine ligands, wherein the diphosphine ligands present are compounds of the formula ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of carboxylate (COO.sup.-), sulfonate (SO.sub.3.sup.-), phosphonate (PO.sub.3.sup.2-) and 2-amino ethanebisphosphonate ?NH--CH.sub.2 --CH(PO.sub.3.sup.2-).sub.2 !, R.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting of a straight-chain alkylene of 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an oxygen-containing alkylene of 2 to 6 carbon atoms, cycloalkylene of 3 to 10 carbon atoms and a member of the formulae II, III, IV or V ##STR2## a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, k and l are individually 0 to 1, where at least one of a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, k or l has to be equal to 1, x(s) are individually 0 or 1, y is an integer of 1 to 24, R.sup.3 and R.sup.

Abstract: New diphosphines in the form of ammonium carboxylates, sulfonates or phosphonates having a singly or multiply charged diphosphine anion and the corresponding number of ammonium cations as counter ions, and a process for their preparation useful as ligand in rhodium catalyst systems for hydroformylation of olefins.

Abstract: Waste gas obtained in the hydroformylation of olefinically unsaturated compounds in the presence of an aqueous catalyst solution comprising water-soluble rhodium complexes (1st reaction stage) is fed to a homogeneous reaction system in which residual amounts of the olefinically unsaturated compounds from the first reaction stage are reacted in a homogeneous reaction system (2nd reaction stage).

Abstract: A process for the hydroformylation of olefinically unsaturated compounds whose hydroformylation products are insoluble or only sparingly soluble in water, comprising reacting the olefinically unsaturated compounds at 60.degree. to 180.degree. C. and 1 to 35 MPa with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in a homogeneous phase in a polar organic solvent and in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a rhodium carbonyl compound and a salt of a sulfonated or carboxylated organic monophosphine or polyphosphine, which salt is soluble both in the polar organic solvent and in water, distilling off the polar organic solvent from the reaction mixture and separating the catalyst system from the distillation residue by extraction with water.

Abstract: In the process for hydroformylation of 1,3-butadiene with carbon monoxide and hydrogen to form pentenals, the improvement comprising effecting the hydroformylation with 1,3-butadiene dissolved in an inert reaction medium at 100.degree. to 180.degree. C. at 5 to 35 MPa in the presence of an aqueous solution of a rhodium/phosphine complex and optionally a further phosphine as catalyst.

Abstract: Mixtures of isomeric decyl alcohols obtained by oligomerization of propylene in the presence of deactivated zeolites as catalysts, followed by separation of the nine carbon olefins from the oligomer mixture, then hydroformylation of the 9 carbon olefins to 10 carbon aldehydes, and hydrogenation of the aldehydes to the corresponding alcohols. The mixtures, when esterified with phthalic acid, or anhydride, provide a mixture of isomeric di-decyl phthalates that can be used as plasticizers.

Abstract: Mixtures of isomeric decyl alcohols obtained by oligomerization of propylene in the presence of deactivated zeolites as catalysts, followed by separation of the nine carbon olefins from the oligomer mixture, then hydroformylation of the 9 carbon olefins to 10 carbon aldehydes, and hydrogenation of the aldehydes to the corresponding alcohols. The mixtures, when esterified with phthalic acid, or anhydride, provide a mixture of isomeric di-decyl phthalates that can be used as plasticizers.

Abstract: Mixtures of isomeric decyl alcohols obtained by oligomerization of propylene in the presence of deactivated zeolites as catalysts, followed by separation of the nine carbon olefins from the oligomer mixture, then hydroformylation of the 9 carbon olefins to 10 carbon aldehydes, and hydrogenation of the aldehydes to the corresponding alcohols. The mixtures, when esterified with phthalic acid, or anhydride, provide a mixture of isomeric di-decyl phthalates that can be used as plasticizers.

Abstract: Sulfonated diphosphines of the formula ##STR1## in which Ar is m-C.sub.6 H.sub.4 -SO.sub.3 M, M is hydrogen, ammonium, a monovalent metal, or the chemical equivalent of a polyvalent metal; Ph is phenyl; the m's are individually 1 or 2, and the n's are individually 0, 1, or 2. A method of their preparation and the hydroformylation of olefins and olefinically unsaturated compounds using these compounds as a constituent of water-soluble catalyst systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Mixtures of isomeric decyl alcohols prepared by hydroformylation of mixtures of butene-1 and butene-2 in two stages to give aldehyde mixtures, and condensation of the aldehyde mixtures to form an aldol mixture, followed by separation and hydrogenation. The first stage of the hydroformylation proceeds in the presence of rhodium catalysts dissolved in water, the second stage in the presence of cobalt catalysts homogeneously dissolved in the reaction medium. The mixture of isomeric decyl alcohols, when esterified with phthalic acid, yields a mixture of isomeric decyl phthalates which are useful as plasticizers.

Abstract: Mixtures of isomeric decyl alcohols prepared by hydroformylation of mixtures of butene-1 and butene-2 in two stages to give aldehyde mixtures, and condensation of the aldehyde mixtures to form an aldol mixture, followed by separation and hydrogenation. The first stage of the hydroformylation proceeds in the presence of rhodium catalysts dissolved in water, the second stage in the presence of cobalt catalysts homogeneously dissolved in the reaction medium. The mixture of isomeric decyl alcohols, when esterified with phthalic acid, yields a mixture of isomeric decyl phthalates which are useful as plasticizers.

Abstract: The sulfonation of arylphosphines, i.e. mono-, di-, oligo- and polyphosphines, which contain at least one aromatic radical capable of being sulfonated, is carried out in the presence of a Lewis acid at 0.degree. to 80.degree. C. The process avoids side-reactions, in particular the formation of phosphine oxides. In treating the sulfonation mixture, the Lewis acid can be removed together with the sulfuric acid.

Abstract: Isomeric mixtures of pentanoic acids are prepared by subjecting butene-1/butene-2 mixtures to hydroformylation to form aldehyde mixtures, followed by oxidation of the aldehyde mixtures which have been separated off from the reaction product. The hydroformylation is carried out in a heterogeneous system in the presence of rhodium catalysts which are dissolved in water. The mixture of isomeric 5 carbon monocarboxylic acids produced, when esterified with polyhydric alcohols, yields mixtures of isomeric esters which are useful as lubricants for refrigerant compressors operated with chlorine-free, at least partly fluorinated hydrocarbons as the refrigerant.

Abstract: Mixtures of isomeric decyl alcohols obtained by hydroformylation of butadiene to produce aldehyde mixtures, condensation of the aldehyde mixtures, isolated from the reaction product, to form an aldol mixture, and isolation and hydrogenation of the aldol mixture. The mixture of isomeric decyl alcohols, esterified using phthalic acid, gives a mixture of isomeric decyl phthalates which are plasticizers having excellent cold properties.

Abstract: Mixtures of isomeric decyl alcohols are obtained by hydroformylation of 1-butene- and 2-butene-containing mixtures in two stages to give aldehyde mixtures, condensation of the isolated and combined aldehyde mixtures to form an aldol mixture, and isolation and hydrogenation of the aldol mixture. The mixture of isomeric decyl alcohols, esterified with phthalic acid, gives a mixture of isomeric decyl phthalates which are useful as plasticizers.

Abstract: The hydroformylation of olefins in liquid phase in the presence of an aqueous solution containing water-soluble rhodium-phosphine complex compounds as catalysts and salts of quaternary phosphonium compounds as solubilizers.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of ethers of the formula R.sup.1 --CR.sup.2 .dbd.CH--O--R.sup.3, in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 are each a radical having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and R.sup.2 is hydrogen or a radical having 1 to 2 carbon atoms, by reaction of a diacetal of the formula R.sup.1 --CHR.sup.2 --CH(--O--R.sup.3).sub.2 in the presence of a catalyst composed of an acid and an amine at elevated temperature in the liquid phase. The unsaturated ether of the above-mentioned formula is formed from the diacetal with elimination of an alcohol R.sup.3 --OH.

Abstract: Sulfonated diphosphines of the formula ##STR1## in which Ar is m-C.sub.6 H.sub.4 --SO.sub.3 M, M is hydrogen, ammonium, a monovalent metal, or the chemical equivalent of a polyvalent metal; Ph is phenyl; the m's are individually 1 or 2, and the n's are individually 0, 1, or 2. A method of their preparation and the hydroformylation of olefins and olefinically unsaturated compounds using these compounds as a constituent of water-soluble catalyst systems are also disclosed.