Abstract: The preparation of 2-formyl-2-methyl succinates by reacting itaconates with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in contact with a catalyst system comprising rhodium and a tertiary phosphorus compound, wherein the reaction is carried out under a pressure of from 90 to 325 bar.

Abstract: Dialkoxyethenes of the formula ##STR1## where R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 are identical or different and are each straight-chain or branched alkyl or cycloalkyl or R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 may furthermore be hydrogen, aryl or alkenylaryl, and the aromatic may be substituted by further radicals, such as alkyl, alkoxy or halogens, are prepared by a process in which an alcohol of the formula R.sup.4 OH or R.sup.5 OH is eliminated from a trialkoxyethane of the formula (II) ##STR2## where R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 have the above meanings and R.sup.5 is straight-chain or branched alkyl or cycloalkyl, in the presence of a zeolite and/or a phosphate and/or phosphoric acid or boric acid on a carrier and/or an acidic, untreated metal oxide as a catalyst. Zeolites of the pentasil type are preferably used as catalysts.

Abstract: Transition metal complexes of the general formula I[A].sup.x- [Q].sup.+ x Iwhere Q is one equivalent of a cation, x is from 0 to 2 and A is a transition metal complex of the general formula ##STR1## where n is from 1 to 3, M is positively charged cobalt, rhodium, iridium or ruthenium, the ligands B are phosphonic, arsonic, phosphinic and/or arsinic acid ligands which are esterified with identical or different alcohols, one or more of these alcohol components carrying a functional group, L is ##STR2## the radicals R.sup.5 are identical or different radicals from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl and phenyl, p is an integer from 0 to 6, q is an integer from 0 to 5, and R.sup.1 is fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, cyanide, isocyanide, cyanate, isocyanate, thiocyanate, isothiocyanate, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.

Abstract: The preparation of 2,3-dialkoxypropanals of the general formula I ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 denote C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl or C.sub.5 - or C.sub.6 -cycloalkyl which may or may not bear substituents which are inert under the conditions of the reaction, wherein a 1,2-dialkoxy ethene of the general formula IIR.sup.1 O--HC.dbd.CH--OR.sup.2 (II)is reacted with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a rhodium-containing catalyst.

Abstract: Octadienols are prepared by reacting 1,3-butadiene with water in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a palladium compound, a triorganophosphorus compound and carbon dioxide and in the additional presence of a triorganophosphine oxide.

Abstract: Olefinically unsaturated compounds are hydroformylated in an organic reaction medium with the aid of rhodium complex catalysts which are soluble in the reaction medium by performing the reaction in the presence of water-insoluble rhodium complex catalysts and also in the presence of arylthiols of the general formula IAr--SH Iwhere Ar is substituted or unsubstituted aryl.

Abstract: 2,2-Dialkylpropionaldehydes I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, are prepared by hydroformylation of 1,1-dialkylethylenes II ##STR2## with cobalt carbonyl complexes, entailing (a) carrying out the reaction in the presence of water-containing solvents in which water is soluble or at least partially soluble, with the water content of the reaction mixture being from 0.1 to 20% by weight, or(b) carrying out the reaction in the presence of a lactone which can have one or more C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl substituents, or of an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic sulfone.

Abstract: 5-Formylvaleric esters are prepared by a process which comprises the following steps:(a) Hydroformylation of a pentenoic ester by reaction with carbon monoxide and hydrogen at elevated temperatures and under superatmospheric pressure in the presence of a carbonyl complex of a metal of group 8 of the Periodic Table with formation of a mixture of 5-, 4- and 3-formylvaleric esters,(b) Isolation of the 5-formylvaleric ester from the resulting mixture of 5-, 4- and 3-formylvaleric esters, a mixture essentially consisting of 4- and 3-formylvaleric esters remaining,(c) Cleavage of the mixture essentially consisting of 4- and 3-formylvaleric esters at from 50.degree. to 400.degree. C. in the presence of a catalyst to give pentenoic esters and(d) Recycling of the pentenoic esters to stage (a).

Abstract: Transition metal complexes of the general formula I[A].sup.x- [Q].sup.+.sub.x Iwhere Q is one equivalent of a cation, x is from 0 to 2 and A is a transition metal complex of the general formula ##STR1## where n is from 1 to 3, M is positively charged cobalt, rhodium, iridium or ruthenium, the ligands B are phosphonic, arsonic, phosphinic and/or arsinic acid ligands which are esterified with identical or different alcohols, one or more of these alcohol components carrying a functional group, L is ##STR2## the radicals R.sup.5 are identical or different radicals from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl and phenyl, p is an integer from 0 to 6, q is an integer from 0 to 5, and R.sup.1 is fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, cyanide, isocyanide, cyanate, isocyanate, thiocyanate, isothiocyanate, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.

Abstract: 1,1-disubstituted ethylene compounds of the general formula I ##STR1## where Z is COOR.sup.2, CN or COR.sup.3, R.sup.1 is an aliphatic, cycloalophatic, araliphatic, aromatic or heterocyclic radical which may be further substituted by functional groups which are inert under the reaction conditions, R.sup.2 is an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or araliphatic radical of 1 to 15 carbon atoms and R.sup.3 is an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or araliphatic radical of 1 to 15 carbon atoms which may be substituted by groups which are inert under the reaction conditions, and R.sup.1 together with R.sup.2 or R.sup.1 together with R.sup.3 may furthermore form an alkylene chain of 2 to 10 carbon atoms which may be substituted by groups which are inert under the reaction conditions, are prepared from a formyl compound of the general formula II ##STR2## where Z, R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 have the above meanings, by a process in which the reaction is carried out in the presence of formaldehyde or paraformaldehyde and(a) a C.sub.

Abstract: Octadienols are prepared by teleomerization of 1,3-butadiene with water in the presence of carbon dioxide and a catalyst system comprising a palladium compound and a tertiary phosphorus compound by performing the reaction in the presence of a strong non-coordinating acid.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of carbonyl compounds by catalyzed isomerization of allyl alcohols in a tertiary phosphine or phosphite ester in the presence of a rhodium compound at a temperature of from 80.degree. C. to 180.degree. C., a carrier gas being passed through the reaction mixture and the carbonyl compound being separated from the emergent gas mixture by cooling.

Abstract: 1,1,2-Trialkoxyethanes of the general formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 to R.sup.3 are each independently of the others C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 -alkyl or cycloalkyl, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be linked together to form a 5-, 6- or 7-membered ring, are prepared by reacting formaldehyde dialkyl acetals of the general formula II ##STR2## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each as defined above, or compounds which are capable of forming formaldehyde dialkyl acetals under the reaction conditions, with carbon monoxide, hydrogen and alkanols R.sup.3 OH under superatmospheric pressure at elevated temperature in the presence of a catalyst composed of a cobalt carbonyl compound and a promotor, wherein the promotor is an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium salt of a protogenic compound having an acid constant K.sub.a of from 10.sup.-2 to 10.sup.-14, an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hydroxide or an aminocarboxylic acid.

Abstract: Adipic acid is prepared by a process which comprises the following steps:(a) Hydroformylation of a pentenoic ester by reaction with carbon monoxide and hydrogen at elevated temperatures and under superatmospheric pressure in the presence of a cobalt carbonyl or rhodium carbonyl complex with formation of a mixture of 5-, 4- and 3-formylvaleric esters,(b) isolation of the 5-formylvaleric ester from the resulting mixture of 5-, 4- and 3-formylvaleric esters, a mixture essentially consisting of 4- and 3-formylvaleric esters remaining,(c) dehydrocarbonylation of the mixture consisting essentially of 4- and 3-formylvaleric esters in the presence of one or more elements of subgroup 8 of the Periodic Table at from 50.degree. to 400.degree. C.

Abstract: .omega.-Formylalkanecarboxylic esters are prepared by hydroformylation of an alkenecarboxylic ester with carbon monoxide and hydrogen at elevated tempertures and under superatmospheric pressure in the presence of a cobalt carbonyl complex by a process in which an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated alkenecarboxylic ester is hydroformylated in the presence of from 0.01 to 1 mol %, calculated as cobalt, of a cobalt carbonyl complex, while maintaining a conversion of from 10 to 70% of .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated alkenecarboxylic esters.

Abstract: Alkyl pentenoates are prepared by reacting butadiene with carbon monoxide and an alkanol in the presence of a cobalt carbonyl complex and a tertiary, aromatic heterocyclic nitrogen base at from 80.degree. to 160.degree. C. under from 100 to 1,000 bar in the presence of from 0.1 to 10% by volume of hydrogen, based on the amount of carbon monoxide used.

Abstract: Aqueous solutions which are obtained in the carbalkoxylation of olefinically unsaturated compounds and contain heterocyclic aromatic nitrogen bases, their transformation products and lower fatty acids and/or their salts are treated by a process in which (a) the aqueous solution is heated to 150.degree.-300.degree. C. under from 10 to 300 bar and (b) heterocyclic aromatic nitrogen bases which are formed again from the transformation products are then separated off.

Abstract: Carbalkoxy-containing aliphatic compounds are prepared continuously by reacting an olefinically unsaturated aliphatic compound with carbon monoxide and an alkanol in the presence of a cobalt carbonyl catalyst and a tertiary nitrogen base at from 80.degree. to 200.degree. C. and under from 100 to 1,200 bar by an improved process in which carbon monoxide is circulated, and a carbon dioxide content of from 0.1 to 2% by volume is maintained in the carbon monoxide fed to the reaction.

Abstract: 1,1,2-trialkoxyethanes I ##STR1## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may furthermore be bonded to one another to form a 5-membered to 7-membered ring, are prepared by reacting a formaldehyde dialkyl acetal II with carbon monoxide and hydrogen, from 0.5 to 1.5 moles of hydrogen being used per mole of carbon monoxide, and with not less than 1 mole of alcohol R.sup.3 OH per mole of formaldehyde dialkyl acetal under superatmospheric pressure and at elevated temperatures in the presence of a catalyst which is formed from a cobalt carbonyl compound and a trivalent organic compound of the formula III ##STR2## where A is phosphorus, arsenic, antimony or bismuth and R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are each an organic radical.

Abstract: Ethylene glycol is prepared from carbon monoxide and hydrogen in homogeneous liquid phase under superatmospheric pressure and at elevated temperature in the presence of a rhodium-containing catalyst and in the presence of an organic solvent, the organic solvent used being a C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 -n-alkanol and the concentration of this alkanol, based on the total amount of the mixture, constantly being maintained at not less than 50% by weight.