Abstract: Alkyl carboxylates are hydrocarbonylated and/or carbonylated with carbon monoxide and hydrogen, in an aqueous medium, and in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a catalyst system comprising (i) ruthenium, (ii) cobalt, (iii) at least one iodine-containing promoter, and (iv) chromium. The subject hydrocarbonylation/carbonylation is admirably well suited, e.g., for the preparation of acetaldehyde, ethanol, ethyl acetate and acetic acid, especially from a methyl carboxylate.

Abstract: Alkyl carboxylates are hydrocarbonylated and/or carbonylated with carbon monoxide and hydrogen, in an aqueous medium, and in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a catalyst system comprising (i) ruthenium, (ii) cobalt, (iii) at least one iodine-containing promoter, and (iv) vanadium. The subject hydrocarbonylation/carbonylation is admirably well suited, e.g., for the preparation of acetaldehyde, ethanol, ethyl acetate and acetic acid, especially from a methyl carboxylate.

Abstract: Carboxylic acids having the structural formula R.sup.1 COOH, wherein R.sup.1 is a linear, branched or cyclic chain alkyl radical of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a phenyl-C.sub.n H.sub.2n -radical wherein 1.ltoreq.n.ltoreq.6, are prepared by carbonylating an alcohol having the formula R.sup.1 -OH with carbon monoxide in liquid phase, in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of nickel and an alkyl or acyl halide promoter therefor, at a temperature of at least about 120.degree. C. and under a total pressure of less than 200 bars, and said carbonylation being carried out in the presence of at least one lanthanide salt, and in an initial carboxylic acid reaction medium having the formula R.sup.2 -COOH, wherein R.sup.2 is defined as was R.sup.1 above, and further wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be the same or different.

Abstract: Carboxylic acid anhydrides are prepared by carbonylating a carboxylic acid ester in liquid phase, in an essentially anhydrous reaction medium including a sulfone reaction solvent, and in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of (i) nickel and an alkyl or acyl iodide promoter therefor, and (ii) a co-catalyst which comprises at least one alkali or alkaline earth metal salt, or quaternary ammonium or phosphonium iodide.The subject process is well adapted, e.g., for the preparation of acetic anhydride by carbonylation of methyl acetate.

Abstract: Carboxylic acids having the structural formula R.sup.1 COOH, wherein R.sup.1 is a linear, branched or cyclic chain alkyl radical of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a .PHI.--C.sub.n H.sub.2n -- radical wherein .PHI. is phenyl and 1.ltoreq.n.ltoreq.6, are prepared by carbonylating an alcohol having the formula R.sup.1 --OH with carbon monoxide in liquid phase, in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of nickel and an alkyl or acyl halide promoter therefor, at a temperature of at least about 120.degree. C. and under a total pressure of less than 200 bars, and said carbonylation being carried out in the presence of at least one chromium salt in which the chromium is in a state of oxidation (p) of greater than zero (p>0), and in an initial carboxylic acid reaction medium having the formula R.sup.2 --COOH, wherein R.sup.2 is defined as was R.sup.1 above, and further wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be the same or different.

Abstract: A process for the homologization of methanol to produce ethanol, comprising carbonylating methanol in the simultaneous presence of hydrogen, cobalt, ruthenium, at least one ionic halide, and at least one alkyl halide, the molar ratio Ru/Co being at least about 2.

Abstract: A process for the carbonylation of methanol to produce acetaldehyde comprising reacting methanol in the presence of hydrogen, cobalt, ruthenium, at least one ionic halide, and at least one alkyl halide, the molar ratio Ru/Co being at most equal to about 2, and the cobalt concentration being at most about 50 milligram atoms per liter of reaction medium.

Abstract: Acetaldehyde is prepared by reacting methanol with a mixture comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide, which mixture comprises at least 25 mol percent hydrogen, in the presence of cobalt, an ionic iodide and a halogen-containing promoter which is different from the ionic iodide. The reaction is best carried out at a temperature of at least 165.degree. C. and with a ratio of gram-ions of I.sup.- originating from the ionic iodide to gram-atoms of cobalt of at least 5 and a ratio of gram-atoms of halogen from the halogen-containing promoter to gram-ions of I.sup.- in the range of about 0.001 to about 0.

Abstract: A process for the production of arylpyruvic acids which comprises reacting an arylmethylhalide in a liquid solvent medium with carbon monoxide at pressures of 5 to 200 bars in the presence of a catalytic amount of a metal carbonyl compound and an alkaline earth metal inorganic base.