Abstract: The invention is a process for the hydroformylation of C.sub.2-4 alkenes, formyl-substituted C.sub.2-4 alkenes, aryl-substituted alkenes, unsaturated norbornane ring-containing compounds, and .alpha.-unsaturated acetals which comprises contacting a C.sub.2-4 alkene, a formyl-substituted C.sub.2-4 alkene, aryl-substituted alkene, an unsaturated norbornane ring-containing compound or an .alpha.-unsaturated acetal in a polar organic solvent with water and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalytic amount of a catalyst which comprises a mixture of (a) an alkali metal iron carbonyl or alkaline earth metal iron carbonyl which corresponds to the formula M.sub.a Fe.sub.x (CO).sub.y and (b) iron pentacarbonyl under conditions such that an alcohol or aldehyde derivative of a C.sub.2-4 alkene, a formyl-substituted C.sub.2-4 alkene, an aryl-substituted alkene, unsaturated norbornane ring-containing compound or an .alpha.

Abstract: The invention is a process for the hydroformylation of C.sub.2-4 alkenes, formyl-substituted C.sub.2-4 alkenes, aryl-substituted alkenes, unsaturated norbornane ring-containing compounds, and .alpha.-unsaturated acetals which comprises contacting a C.sub.2-4 alkene, a formyl-substituted C.sub.2-4 alkene, aryl-substituted alkene, an unsaturated norbornane ring-containing compound or an .alpha.-unsaturated acetal in a polar organic solvent with water and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalytic amount of a catalyst which comprises a mixture of (a) an alkali metal iron carbonyl or alkaline earth metal iron carbonyl which corresponds to the formula M.sub.a Fe.sub.x (CO).sub.y and (b) iron pentacarbonyl under conditions such that an alcohol or aldehyde derivative of a C.sub.2-4 alkene, a formyl-substituted C.sub.2-4 alkene, an aryl-substituted alkene, unsaturated norbornane ring-containing compound or an .alpha.

Abstract: The invention is a process for the preparation of a 2-phenylethyl alcohol which comprises contacting an aromatic aldehyde with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in a solvent comprising an oxygenated polar hydrocarbon and water, in the presence of a catalytic amount of a catalyst comprising a cobalt compound, a ruthenium salt and an iodine salt, at elevated temperatures and a pressure of between 600 and 45,000 psi.