Abstract: 1,3-Propanediol is prepared in a process which involves reacting ethylene oxide with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in an essentially non-water-miscible solvent in the presence of a non-phosphine-ligated cobalt catalyst and a catalyst promoter to produce an intermediate product mixture containing 3-hydroxypropanal in an amount less than 15 wt %; extracting the 3-hydroxypropanal from the intermediate product mixture into an aqueous liquid at a temperature less than about 100.degree. C. and separating the aqueous phase containing 3-hydroxypropanal from the organic phase containing cobalt catalyst; hydrogenating the 3-hydroxypropanal in the aqueous phase to 1,3-propanediol; and recovering the 1,3-propanediol.The process enables the production of 1,3-propanediol in high yield and selectivity without the use of a phosphine ligand-modified cobalt catalyst.

Abstract: A method is provided to prepare a cationic transition metal catalyst, the method including the steps of: providing a disubstituted phosphine selected from the group consisting of RPH and R.sub.1 R.sub.2 PH wherein R is a divalent group selected from substituted and nonsubstituted hydrocarbon groups, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from substituted and nonsubstituted hydrocarbon groups; combining the disubstituted phosphine with a salt of the formula R.sub.3 X.sub.n wherein X is a good leaving group and is a weakly coordinating anion and R.sub.3 is a substituted or nonsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon and n is 1, 2, or 3 to form a phosphonium salt of a formula selected from R.sub.3 (RP.sup.+ H).sub.n nX.sup.- and R.sub.3 (R.sub.1 R.sub.2 P.sup.+ H).sub.n nX.sup.- ; and combining the phosphonium salt with a transition metal salt of the formula MY.sub.m wherein M is a transition metal, and Y is the anion of a weak acid thereby forming a cationic transition metal catalyst.

Abstract: A process comprising subjecting at least one compound containing at least one carbon--carbon double bond or at least one carbon--carbon triple bond, hydrogen and carbon monoxide, to a hydrocarbonylation reaction in supercritical carbon dioxide, in the presence of a Group VIII transition metal catalyst precursor, and a phosphite ligand.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating one or more products from a reaction product fluid comprising a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, optionally free organophosphorus ligand, a nonpolar solvent and said one or more products, wherein said process comprises (1) mixing said reaction product fluid with a polar solvent to obtain by phase separation a non-polar phase comprising said metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, optionally free organophosphorus ligand and said nonpolar solvent and a polar phase comprising said one or more products and polar solvent, and (2) recovering said polar phase from said nonpolar phase; wherein said organophosphorus ligand has a partition coefficient between the nonpolar solvent and the polar solvent of greater than about 5, and said one or more products have a partition coefficient between the polar solvent and the nonpolar solvent of greater than about 0.5.

Abstract: A process for producing a rhodium complex solution, which comprises contacting an aqueous solution of a water-soluble rhodium compound and an organic solvent solution of a water-insoluble tertiary organic phosphorus compound, preferably in the presence of a C.sub.2-8 carboxylic acid, in a gas atmosphere containing carbon monoxide, followed by two phase separation, and recovering an organic solvent phase containing a rhodium-tertiary organic phosphorus compound complex.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating one or more products from a reaction product fluid comprising a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, optionally free organophosphorus ligand, a polar solvent and said one or more products, wherein said process comprises (1) mixing said reaction product fluid with a nonpolar solvent to obtain by phase separation a polar phase comprising said metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, optionally free organophosphorus ligand and said polar solvent and a nonpolar phase comprising said one or more products and nonpolar solvent, and (2) recovering said nonpolar phase from said polar phase; wherein said organophosphorus ligand has a partition coefficient between the polar solvent and the nonpolar solvent of greater than about 10, and said one or more products have a partition coefficient between the nonpolar solvent and the polar solvent of greater than about 0.5.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hydroformylation process comprising: (1) forming a reaction mixture containing: (a) an olefinic compound, (b) hydrogen, (c) carbon monoxide, (d) a phosphite in which each phosphorus atom is bonded to three oxygen atoms and at least one such oxygen atom is bonded to a carbon atom of an aromatic ring that is adjacent to another carbon atom of said ring having a pendant monovalent group having a steric hindrance at least as great as the steric hindrance of the isopropyl group, (e) a catalytic amount of rhodium, and (f) a Group VIII metal (other than a rhodium) in an amount sufficient to reduce the rhodium-catalyzed decomposition of the phosphite during the hydroformylation process; and (2) maintaining the reaction mixture under conditions at which the olefinic compound reacts with the hydrogen and carbon monoxide to form an aldehyde.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from a reaction product fluid containing said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds, a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organophosphorus ligand which process comprises (a) treating said reaction product fluid with water sufficient to remove at least some amount of said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from said reaction product fluid and (b) treating the water which contains phosphorus acidic compounds removed from said reaction product fluid with an acid removal substance sufficient to remove at least some amount of said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from said water.

Abstract: This invention relates in part to processes for selectively producing one or more substituted or unsubstituted 1,6-hexanedials, e.g., adipaldehyde, which comprise: (a) subjecting one or more substituted or unsubstituted alkadienes, e.g., butadiene, or a mixture comprising one or more substituted or unsubstituted alkadienes to hydroformylation in the presence of a hydroformylation catalyst, e.g., a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, and at an alkadiene partial pressure and/or a carbon monoxide partial pressure sufficient to selectively produce one or more substituted or unsubstituted pentenals or a reaction mixture comprising one or more substituted or unsubstituted pentenals; and (b) subjecting said one or more substituted or unsubstituted pentenals or said reaction mixture comprising one or more substituted or unsubstituted pentenals to hydroformylation in the presence of a hydroformylation catalyst, e.g.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from a reaction product fluid containing said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds, a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organophosphorus ligand which process comprises (a) treating said reaction product fluid with water sufficient to remove at least some amount of said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from said reaction product fluid and (b) treating the water which contains phosphorus acidic compounds removed from said reaction product fluid with an ion exchange resin sufficient to remove at least some amount of said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from said water.

Abstract: This invention relates in part to processes for producing one or more substituted or unsubstituted aldehyde acid salts, e.g., epsilon caprolactam, which comprises subjecting said one or more substituted or unsubstituted unsaturated acid salts, e.g., pentenoic acid salts, to hydroformylation in the presence of a hydroformylation catalyst, e.g., a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, to produce one or more substituted or unsubstituted aldehyde acid salts and/or one or more substituted or unsubstituted epsilon caprolactam precursors. This invention also relates in part to reaction mixtures containing one or more substituted or unsubstituted aldehyde acid salts as the principal product(s) of reaction.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from a reaction product fluid containing said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds, a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organophosphorus ligand which process comprises treating said reaction product fluid with water sufficient to remove at least some amount of said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from said reaction product fluid.

Abstract: This invention relates in part to processes for selectively producing one or more substituted or unsubstituted alkenals. The process hydroformylates at least one substituted or unsubstituted alkadienes, e.g., butadiene, or a mixture of one or more substituted or unsubstituted alkadienes in the presence of a hydroformylation catalyst, e.g., a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, and at an alkadiene and/or carbon monoxide partial pressure sufficient to selectively produce at least one substituted or unsubstituted alkenals, e.g., pentenals. The substituted and unsubstituted alkenals produced by the processes of this invention can undergo further reaction(s) to afford desired derivatives thereof, e.g., hydrogenation to alkenols, particularly pentenols. This invention also relates to reaction mixtures containing one or more substituted or unsubstituted alkenals or alkenols as principal product(s) of those reactions.

Abstract: A hydroformylation catalyst composition comprising iridium or rhodium and a bidentate organic phosphite ligand wherein the two phosphorus atoms of the phopshite ligand are linked with a 2,2'-dihydroxyl-1,1'-binapthalene bridging group having the following structure (Q): ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are substituents other than hydrogen.

Abstract: A hydroformylation process for unsaturated compounds such as monoolefins and diolefins is carried out in an ionic medium in which the catalytic species is dissolved, but in which the reaction products (aldehydes) formed are only slightly soluble or are insoluble. The ionic medium is liquid at a temperature below 90.degree. C. and comprises at least one quaternary ammonium and/or phosphonium cation and at least one anion which is preferably selected from the group formed by tetrafluoroborate when the cation is ammonium, hexafluorophosphate, hexafluoroantimonate, hexafluoroarsenate, perfluoroalkylsulphonates, fluorosulphonate, bis-perfluoroalkylsulphonyl amides or dichlorocuprate, tetrachlorocuprate, tetrachloroaluminate, or trichlorozincate. At the end of the reaction, the organic phase is separated out and the polar phase containing the catalyst is used again.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process which comprises reacting one or more reactants in the presence of a metal-organopolyphosphorus ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organopolyphosphorus ligand to produce a reaction product fluid comprising one or more products, wherein said process is conducted at a carbon monoxide partial pressure such that reaction rate increases as carbon monoxide partial pressure decreases and reaction rate decreases as carbon monoxide partial pressure increases and which is sufficient to prevent and/or lessen deactivation of the metal-organopolyphosphorus ligand complex catalyst.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from a reaction product fluid containing said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds, a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organophosphorus ligand which process comprises treating said reaction product fluid with an aqueous buffer solution sufficient to neutralize and remove at least some amount of said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from said reaction product fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing di-n-butene and alkyl tertbutyl ethers in a coupled production from field butanes, which indicates (a) separating the field butanes 1 into n-butane and isobutane in the separation stage 4, (b) dehydrogenating the n-butane 5 in a dehydrogenation stage 6 to give an n-butene-containing dehydrogenation mixture 7, oligomerizing the n-butene in the oligomerization stage 10 to give an oligomer mixture 11 and separating di-n-butene 12 off from this, and (c) de-hydrogenating the isobutane 15 in the dehydrogenation stage 16 to give an isobutene-containing dehydrogenation mixture 17 and reacting the isobutene with an alkanol 20 in the etherification stage 19 to give an alkyl tert-butyl ether 21.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the hydroformylation of an olefin chosen from the alkenes represented by the formula CnH.sub.2n in which n is an integer less than or equal to 30, or chosen from functionalized olefins, by a CO/H.sub.2 gas mixture in a two-phase medium, this process consisting in placing in contact, on the one hand, an aqueous solution containing a catalytic system consisting of a water-soluble transition metal complex and a water-soluble phosphine, and, on the other hand, an olefin, in heating the reaction mixture obtained with stirring, after it has been placed under a pressure of the CO/H.sub.2 gas mixture, in which process a modified cyclodextrin is introduced into the aqueous solution containing the catalytic system.

Abstract: This invention relates in part to processes for producing one or more substituted or unsubstituted hydroxyaldehydes, e.g., 6-hydroxyhexanals, which comprise subjecting one or more substituted or unsubstituted alkadienes, e.g., butadiene, to reductive hydroformylation in the presence of a reductive hydroformylation catalyst, e.g., a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, and hydroformylation in the presence of a hydroformylation catalyst, e.g., a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, to produce one or more substituted or unsubstituted hydroxyaldehydes. The substituted and unsubstituted hydroxyaldehydes produced by the processes of this invention can undergo further reaction(s) to afford desired derivatives thereof, e.g., epsilon caprolactone. This invention also relates in part to reaction mixtures containing one or more substituted or unsubstituted hydroxyaldehydes as principal product(s) of reaction.

Abstract: This invention relates in part to processes for producing one or more substituted or unsubstituted hydroxyaldehydes, e.g., 6-hydroxyhexanals, which comprise subjecting one or more substituted or unsubstituted alkadienes, e.g., butadiene, to hydrocarbonylation in the presence of a hydrocarbonylation catalyst, e.g., a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, and hydroformylation in the presence of a hydroformylation catalyst, e.g., a metal-organophosphorus ligand complex catalyst, to produce one or more substituted or unsubstituted hydroxyaldehydes. The substituted and unsubstituted hydroxyaldehydes produced by the processes of this invention can undergo further reaction(s) to afford desired derivatives thereof, e.g., epsilon caprolactone. This invention also relates in part to reaction mixtures containing one or more substituted or unsubstituted hydroxyaldehydes as principal product(s) of reaction.

Abstract: A process for preparing aldehydes by hydroformylation of olefinically unsaturated compounds with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in a homogeneous phase in the presence of a catalyst system comprising organometallic complex compounds and ligands of these complex compounds in molar excess, and separating off the catalyst system from the hydroformylation reaction mixture by pressure filtration on a semipermeable membrane of an aromatic polyamide, the mass molar ratio of the ligands present in excess to the aldehydes prepared is 9-30, preferably 10-25, in particular 10-15, with the ligands present in excess not being alkylammonium or arylammonium salts of sulfonated, carboxylated or phosphonated aromatic diphosphines which by maintaining the molar mass ratio, not only are high activation and selectivity values obtained in the hydroformylation itself, but also excellent retention values for the catalyst system are obtained in the membrane filtration step.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a linear aldehyde organic compound by hydroformylation (b) starting from an internally unsaturated functionalised organic compound whereby first (a) a portion of the internally unsaturated functionalized organic compound is isomerized to a terminally unsaturated functionalised organic compound in the presence of a suitable isomerization catalyst, wherein following the isomerization step (a), the hydroformylation (b) is effected in the presence of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and a catalyst which preferentially catalyzes the hydroformylation reaction of the terminally unsaturated functionalised organic compound to the linear aldehyde organic compound, the internally unsaturated functionalised organic compound remaining practically unhydroformylated, whereupon (c) the linear aldhyde organic compound is separated out of the mixture and (d) the remainder of the unsaturated functionalised organic compound-containing mixture is recirculated to the isomerization step (a).

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: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of aldehydes, which comprises reacting an olefinic compound having 2 to 20 carbon atoms with carbon monoxide and hydrogen, in the presence or absence of a solvent, in the presence of a catalyst comprising rhodium and a compound or a mixture of compounds of the formula (I) ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 is H or an alkyl radical having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 is a straight-chain alkylene radical having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, an oxygen-containing alkylene radical having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, a radical of the formula (II) or (III) ##STR2## or a cycloalkylene radical having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, R.sup.3 is an alkyl radical having 1 to 25 carbon atoms or an aryl radical having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, A is a radical --COO.sup.- or --SO.sub.3.sup.- and x=0, y=1, m=1 and n=1, or x=0.1, y=1, m=(1 or 2) and n=(1 or 2), or, if R.sup.2 is a radical of the formula (II) or (III), x=1, y=0, m=(0 or 1) and n=(0 or 1), at a temperature from 50.degree. to 190.degree. C.

Abstract: Hydroformylation of alkenes to aldehydes in the presence of a rhodium complex catalyst is improved by the addition of a novel bidentate ligand of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.1 ' and R.sub.2 ' are organic radicals selected from alicyclic, aliphatic and aromatic groups of which at least one is preferably substituted with at least one electronegative moiety and the methylene groups are present at the trans-2,3 positions on the norbomane moiety. The invention also provides a novel method for producing the bidentate ligand and novel intermediate phosphine oxide and phosphinous acid compounds.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from a reaction product fluid containing said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds, a metal-organophosphite ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organophosphite ligand which process comprises (a) treating said reaction product fluid with water sufficient to remove at least some amount of said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from said reaction product fluid and (b) treating the water which contains phosphorus acidic compounds removed from said reaction product fluid with an acid removal substance sufficient to remove at least some amount of said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from said water.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from a reaction product fluid containing said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds, a metal-organophosphite ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organophosphite ligand which process comprises treating said reaction product fluid with water sufficient to remove at least some amount of said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from said reaction product fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for hydroformylating olefins with carbon monoxide and a hydrogen atom source in the presence of a catalyst system obtainable by combining (a) a source of a Group VIII metal cation, (b) a compound acting as bidentate ligand of the formula R.sup.1 R.sup.2 M.sup.1 --R--M.sup.2 R.sup.3 R.sup.4, wherein M.sup.1 and M.sup.2 independently are P, As or Sb, R represents a bivalent substituted or non-substituted bridging group containing from 1 to 5 atoms in the bridge, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together are a substituted or non-substituted bivalent group whereby the two free valencies are linked to M.sup.1, and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 together are a substituted or non-substituted bivalent group whereby the two free valencies are linked to M.sup.2 or R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 independently are substituted or non-substituted hydrocarbyl groups, and (c) a source of anions; wherein the hydrogen atom source comprises water or a primary or secondary alcohol.

Abstract: 1,3-propanediol is prepared in a process which involves hydroformylating ethylene oxide:(a) in an essentially non-water-miscible solvent in the presence of a non-ligated cobalt catalyst and a catalyst promoter at a temperature within the range of about 50.degree. to about 100.degree. C. and a pressure within the range of about 500 to about 5000 psig, to produce an intermediate product mixture comprising less than about 15 wt % 3-hydroxypropanal;(b) adding an aqueous liquid and extracting at a temperature less than about 100.degree. C. the 3-hydroxypropanal to provide an aqueous phase comprising 3-hydroxypropanal in greater concentration than the concentration of 3-hydroxypropanal in said intermediate product mixture, and an organic phase comprising the cobalt catalyst;(c) separating the aqueous phase from the organic phase;(d) hydrogenating the 3-hydroxypropanal to provide a hydrogenation product mixture comprising 1,3-propanediol; and(e) recovering 1,3-propanediol from said hydrogenation product mixture.

Abstract: A process for preparing aldehydes comprising hydroformylating olefinically unsaturated compounds with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in a homogeneous phase in the presence of a catalyst system comprising rhodium complex compounds and aromatic phosphines in a molar excess and separating off the catalyst system from the hydroformylation reaction mixture by pressure filtration on a semipermeable membrane of an aromatic polyamide by carrying out the hydroformylation at a pH of 2.5 to 4.3 using a molar ratio of phosphine:rhodium of at least 60 and at a rhodium concentration of at least 10 ppm by weight, based on the olefinically unsaturated compound used, and using, as aromatic phosphines, special alkylammonium and/or arylammonium salts of sulfonated or carboxylated triarylphosphines which process leads to excellent activities and selectivities in the hydroformylation step itself and also to high retention values in the membrane filtration step.

Abstract: Active Rhodium catalyst and impurities are separated from a hydroformylation process stream containing both active and inactive organo-rhodium catalyst by binding active catalyst and impurities to an acidic ion exchange resin containing an acidic group. The purified hydroformylation stream can be returned to the hydroformylation reactor. All or a portion of inactive rhodium can be reactivated before recycling purified hydroformylation process stream to the reactor. During regeneration of the resin, a neutral solvent is used first to remove impurities which are discarded, then an acidic solvent is used to remove active organic rhodium catalyst from the resin. Such active catalyst can be rehydrided and returned to the hydroformylation reactor. An ion exchange resin having at least one acid group disposed on a silica backbone and an active organo-rhodium complex from a hydroformylation process stream bound to the resin can be produced.

Abstract: Described is a process for hydroformylation of an olefinic compound, which comprises, carrying out the reaction in the presence of:a) a rhodium compound,b) a tertiary organic phosphorus compound represented by the following formula (1):P(X.sub.1)(X.sub.2)(X.sub.3 --SO.sub.3 M) (1)wherein X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 each independently represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1-15 carbon atoms and X.sub.

Abstract: Hydroformylation of alkenes to aldehydes in the presence of a rhodium complex catalyst is improved by the addition of a novel bidentate ligand of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.1 ' and R.sub.2 ' are organic radicals selected from alicyclic, aliphatic and aromatic groups of which at least one is preferably substituted with at least one electronegative moiety and the methylene groups are present at the trans-2,3 positions on the norbornane moiety. The invention also provides a novel method for producing the bidentate ligand and novel intermediate phosphine oxide and phosphinous acid compounds.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process which comprises reacting one or more reactants in the presence of a metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst to produce a reaction product fluid comprising one or more products, wherein said process is conducted at a free organopolyphosphite ligand concentration sufficient to prevent and/or lessen hydrolytic degradation of the organopolyphosphite ligand and deactivation of the metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from a hydroformylation reaction product fluid containing said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds, a metal-organophosphite ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organophosphite ligand which process comprises (a) treating said hydroformylation reaction product fluid with water sufficient to remove at least some amount of said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from said hydroformylation reaction product fluid and (b) treating the water which contains phosphorus acidic compounds removed from said hydroformylation reaction product fluid with an ion exchange resin sufficient to remove at least some amount of said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from said water.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from a hydroformylation reaction product fluid containing said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds, a metal-organophosphite ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organophosphite ligand which process comprises (a) treating said hydroformylation reaction product fluid with water sufficient to remove at least some amount of said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from said hydroformylation reaction product fluid and (b) treating the water which contains phosphorus acidic compounds removed from said hydroformylation reaction product fluid with an acid removal substance sufficient to remove at least some amount of said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from said water.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from a reaction product fluid containing said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds, a metal-organophosphite ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organophosphite ligand which process comprises (a) treating said reaction product fluid with water sufficient to remove at least some amount of said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from said reaction product fluid and (b) treating the water which contains phosphorus acidic compounds removed from said reaction product fluid with an ion exchange resin sufficient to remove at least some amount of said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from said water.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process which comprises reacting one or more reactants in the presence of a metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organopolyphosphite ligand to produce a reaction product fluid comprising one or more products, wherein said process is conducted at a carbon monoxide partial pressure such that reaction rate increases as carbon monoxide partial pressure decreases and reaction rate decreases as carbon monoxide partial pressure increases and which is sufficient to prevent and/or lessen deactivation of the metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst.

Abstract: An exothermic chemical reaction, for example, hydroformylation, is carried out in a series of loop reactors. Fresh reactant feed is supplied not only to the first reactor in the series but also to the second reactor, thereby achieving improved overall throughput while maintaining a stable temperature in at least the first reactor.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hydroformylation process which comprises reacting one or more olefinic unsaturated compounds with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst to produce a reaction product fluid comprising one or more aldehydes, wherein said hydroformylation process is conducted at a free organopolyphosphite ligand concentration sufficient to prevent and/or lessen hydrolytic degradation of the organopolyphosphite ligand and deactivation of the metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst.

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: The present invention provides a hydroformylation process comprising: (1) forming a reaction mixture containing: (a) an olefinic compound, (b) hydrogen, (c) carbon monoxide, (d) a phosphite in which each phosphorus atom is bonded to three oxygen atoms and at least one such oxygen atom is bonded to a carbon atom of an aromatic ring that is adjacent to another carbon atom of said ring having a pendant monovalent group having a steric hindrance at least as great as the steric hindrance of the isopropyl group, (e) a catalytic amount of rhodium, and (f) a Group VIII metal (other than a rhodium) in an amount sufficient to reduce the rhodium-catalyzed decomposition of the phosphite during the hydroformylation process; and (2) maintaining the reaction mixture under conditions at which the olefinic compound reacts with the hydrogen and carbon monoxide to form an aldehyde.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process which comprises reacting one or more reactants in the presence of a metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organopolyphosphite ligand to produce a reaction product fluid comprising one or more products, wherein said process is conducted at (a) a carbon monoxide partial pressure such that reaction rate increases as carbon monoxide partial pressure decreases and reaction rate decreases as carbon monoxide partial pressure increases and which is sufficient to prevent and/or lessen deactivation of the metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst and (b) a temperature such that the temperature difference between reaction product fluid temperature and inlet coolant temperature is sufficient to prevent and/or lessen cycling of carbon monoxide partial pressure, hydrogen partial pressure, total reaction pressure, reaction rate and/or temperature during said process.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from a hydroformylation reaction product fluid containing said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds, a metal-organophosphite ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organophosphite ligand which process comprises treating said hydroformylation reaction product fluid with water sufficient to remove at least some amount of said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from said hydroformylation reaction product fluid.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hydroformylation process which comprises reacting one or more olefinic unsaturated compounds with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organopolyphosphite ligand, and an amount of a sterically hindered organophosphorus ligand different from the organopolyphosphite ligand of said metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst, to produce one or more aldehydes. The sterically hindered organophosphorus ligands are useful as indicators of organopolyphosphite ligand depletion in said hydroformylation process.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from a reaction product fluid containing said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds, a metal-organophosphite ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organophosphite ligand which process comprises treating said reaction product fluid with an aqueous buffer solution sufficient to neutralize and remove at least some amount of said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from said reaction product fluid.

Abstract: This invention relates to processes which comprise reacting one or more reactants in the presence of a metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organopolyphosphite ligand, and an amount of a sterically hindered organophosphorus ligand different from the organopolyphosphite ligand of said metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst, to produce one or more products. The sterically hindered organophosphorus ligands are useful as indicators of organopolyphosphite ligand depletion in said processes.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from a hydroformylation reaction product fluid containing said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds, a metal-organophosphite ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organophosphite ligand which process comprises treating said hydroformylation reaction product fluid with an aqueous buffer solution sufficient to neutralize and remove at least some amount of said one or more phosphorus acidic compounds from said hydroformylation reaction product fluid.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of stabilizing a metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst against deactivation in a process which comprises reacting one or more reactants in the presence of a metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organopolyphosphite ligand to produce a reaction product fluid comprising one or more products, which method comprises conducting said process in the presence of one or more free heterocyclic nitrogen compounds sufficient to prevent and/or lessen deactivation of the metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst.