Abstract: A carbonylation catalyst system, which comprises:a) a source of a Group VIII metal;b) a source of a phosphine having an aromatic substituent containing an imino nitrogen atom;c) a source of protons; andd) a source of an alkylsulfonate anion, and the use of such a catalyst system in the carbonylation of an acetylenically or olefinically unsaturated compound.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of an alpha,beta-olefinically unsaturated compound, which comprises reacting an acetylenically unsaturated compound with monoxide and a hydroxyl-containing compound in the presence of a catalyst system comprising:(a) a source of a Group VIII metal cation,(b) a source of an organic diphosphine having at least one of the phosphorus atoms substituted by an aromatic substituent containing an imino nitrogen atom, and(c) a source of an anion.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of linear alternating polymers of carbon monoxide and at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon employs a novel catalyst composition formed from a compound of palladium, the anion of a strong non-hydrohalogenic acid and a novel bidentate phosphine ligand wherein each phosphorus has an aliphatic group as one monovalent substituent and as another monovalent substituent a heteroaromatic group connected to the phosphorus by a ring carbon atom. The polymers are useful as thermoplastics.

Abstract: A carbonylation catalyst system, which comprises:a) a source of a Group VIII metal;b) a source of a phosphine having an aromatic substituent containing an imino nitrogen atom;c) a source of protons; andd) a source of an alkylsulfonate anion, and the use of such a catalyst system in the carbonylation of an acetylenically or olefinically unsaturated compound.

Abstract: A catalyst system, which containsa) a source of a group VIII metal, andb) a phosphine of general formula: ##STR1## in which R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are independently selected from an optionally substituted aryl group and a group of general formula: ##STR2## wherein eachh of A, X, Y and Z is independently selected from a nitrogen atom, a CH group and a group of formula CR wherein R represents a hydroxyl group, an amino group, an amido group, a cyano group, an aryl group, an aryloxy group, a halogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group or an optionally substituted hydrocarbyloxy group, it also being possible for two adjacent CR groups to form a ring, provided that at least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 represents a group of formula (II) in which at least one of A and Z represents a group of formula CR; or an acid addition salt thereof.Also disclosed is the use of the catalyst system in the selective carbonylation of unsaturated hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A catalyst system which comprises:a) a group VIII metal compound, andb) a monophosphine of formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents an aliphatic hydrocarbyl group, R.sup.2 represents an optionally substituted aromatic heterocyclic group having 5 or 6 ring atoms of which at least one is nitrogen, which may form part of an optionally substituted larger condensed ring structure, and R.sup.3 independently has the meaning of R.sup.2 or represents an optionally substituted aryl group or an acid addition salt thereof, and their use in the carbonylation of unsaturated compounds.

Abstract: A catalyst system, which containsa) a source of a Group VIII metal, andb) a phosphine of general formula: ##STR1## in which R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are independently selected from an optionally substituted aryl group and a group of general formula: ##STR2## wherein each of A, X, Y and Z is independently selected from a nitrogen atom, a CH group and a group of formula CR wherein R represents a hydroxyl group, an amino group, an amido group, a cyano group, an aryl group, an aryloxy group, a halogen atom, an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group or an optionally substituted hydrocarbyloxy group, it also being possible for two adjacent CR groups to form a ring, provided that at least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 represents a group of formula (II) in which at least one of A and Z represents a group of formula CR; or an acid addition salt thereof.Also disclosed is the use of the catalyst system in the selective carbonylation of unsaturated hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A catalyst system which comprises:a) a group VIII metal compound, andb) a monophosphine of formula ##STR1## where R.sup.1 represents an aliphatic hydrocarbyl group, R.sup.2 represents an optionally substituted aromatic heterocyclic group having 5 or 6 ring atoms of which at least one is nitrogen, which may form part of an optionally substituted larger condensed ring structure, and R.sup.3 independently has the meaning of R.sup.2 or represents an optionally substituted aryl group or an acid addition salt thereof, and their use in the carbonylation of unsaturated compounds.

Abstract: Diphosphines having at least one heterocyclic substituent that includes at least one oxygen, sulphur, or nitrogen atom in a five or six membered ring are useful components in palladium catalyst compositions which have been used to polymerize carbon monoxide and olefinically unsaturated compounds. Remaining substituents, if any, are carbocyclic hydrocarbon groups such as phenyls which are preferably substituted with polar groups in a ring position ortho to the phosphorus. The phosphorus atoms in the diphosphine are connected by a bridging group that contains at least one carbon atom.

Abstract: Diphosphines having at least one heterocyclic substituent that includes at least one oxygen, sulphur, or nitrogen atom in a five or six membered ring are useful components in palladium catalyst compositions which have been used to polymerize carbon monoxide and olefinically unsaturated compounds. Remaining substituents, if any, are carbocyclic hydrocarbon groups such as phenyls which are preferably substituted with polar groups in a ring position ortho to the phosphorus. The phosphorus atoms in the diphosphine are connected by a bridging group that contains at least one carbon atom.