Abstract: Catalytic metal loss when using a hydroformylation catalyst comprising an organophosphite ligand is ameliorated by adding CO to a strip gas vaporizer.

Abstract: Methods of purifying crude cyclopentadienyl magnesium compounds using a scavenging agent are provided. The purified cyclopentadienyl magnesium compounds have very low levels of metallic impurities.

Abstract: An improved hydroformylation catalyst cycle is disclosed wherein the cobalt catalyst is recycled to the hydroformylation reaction mainly as a water soluble carbonyl salt, obtained from extraction of the acidic form of the homogeneous cobalt carbonyl catalyst from the hydroformylation product with an aqueous solution of a salt of a weaker acid. The organic product after extraction is submitted to a further demetalling step in the presence of a dilute acid and an oxidant. The water from this further demetalling step is suitable for use in the upstream extraction step. A free water phase present in the hydroformylation reaction product may be separated upstream from the extraction step and is suitable for use in the further demetalling step, such that the catalyst cycle has no waste water stream.

Abstract: A process of controlling heavies in a recycle catalyst stream, particularly, for use in a continuous hydroformylation process of converting an olefin with synthesis gas in the presence of a hydroformylation catalyst to form an aldehyde product stream with subsequent separation of the catalyst for recycle to the hydroformylation step. Heavies are controlled, and preferably reduced, by means of feeding a recycle gas stream, taken as a portion of an over-head stream from a condenser, back to a vaporizer wherein the aldehyde product stream is separated.

Abstract: An improved hydroformylation catalyst cycle is disclosed wherein the cobalt catalyst is recycled to the hydroformylation reaction mainly as a water soluble carbonyl salt, obtained from extraction of the acidic form of the homogeneous cobalt carbonyl catalyst from the hydroformylation product with an aqueous solution of a salt of a weaker acid. The organic product after extraction is submitted to a further demetalling step in the presence of a dilute acid and an oxidant. The water from this further demetalling step is suitable for use in the upstream extraction step. A free water phase present in the hydroformylation reaction product may be separated upstream from the extraction step and is suitable for use in the further demetalling step, such that the catalyst cycle has no waste water stream.

Abstract: A process for converting an olefin having x carbon atoms into an olefin having x+1 carbon atoms wherein the process comprises the steps of: (i) reacting an olefin having x carbon atoms with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a hydroformylation catalyst to produce an alcohol having x+1 carbon atoms, and (ii) dehydrating the alcohol produced in step (i) in the presence of a dehydration catalyst to produce an olefin having x+1 carbon atoms characterized in that the hydroformylation catalyst used in step (i) is based on: (a) a source of cobalt, and (b) a ligand which contains phosphorus and nitrogen.

Abstract: Oxidative recovery methods that use oxygen or air for recovery of homogeneous metal catalysts, such as cobalt catalysts, used in for example hydroformylation processes, can be hazardous. Explosive or flammable gas mixtures may be generated inside the process equipment, which can deflagrate upon any ignition source such as a static electricity discharge. The use of a flammable diluent has been found to be a very effective way of optimizing the recovery method, by bringing the resulting gas mixtures above their upper flammability limit. The offgas produced is then also easier to dispose of as a fuel, as compared to when a non-flammable diluent is used.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for degassing an aqueous solution containing a hydroformylation product and separating a volatile metal species from gaseous stream to inhibit or prevent deposition of a solid material from the gaseous stream. To separate the volatile metal species from the gaseous stream, the gaseous stream is either 1) contacted with a liquid that separates the volatile metal species, or a reaction product thereof, from the gaseous stream; 2) passed through a microfilter having a pore size of 2 ?m or less; or 3) contacted with an adsorbent material.

Abstract: A catalyst comprising at least one complex of a metal of transition group VIII comprising at least one monodentate, bidentate or multidentate phosphinamidite ligand in which the phosphorus atom and the oxygen atom of the phosphinamidite group form part of a 5- to 8-membered heterocycle can be used for the hydroformylation and hydrocyanation of compounds containing at least one ethylenically unsaturated double bond. The phosphinamidite ligand is, for example, represented by the following formulae wherein represents an optionally substituted 5- to 8-membered heterocycle wherein A represents carbon ring members; represents an optionally substituted N-bonded heterocycle wherein (Het) indicates optional ring heteroatoms in addition to the N; and B is a carbon-carbon single bond or a divalent bridging group.

Abstract: Essentially monounsaturated polyalkylenes having from 30 to 700 carbon atoms are continuously hydroformylated by a process in which i) a hydroformylation-active cobalt carbonyl catalyst is prepared from a catalyst precursor dissolved in an aqueous phase in the absence of the polyalkylenes, ii) the polyalkylenes are hydroformylated by means of synthesis gas in the presence of the cobalt carbonyl catalyst in a reaction zone, iii) the cobalt carbonyl catalyst is separated from the output from the reaction zone with at least partial reformation of the catalyst precursor and the catalyst precursor is recirculated to step i).

Abstract: A process for hydroformylating olefinically unsaturated compounds by means of a cobalt-based catalyst is carried out in a non-aqueous ionic liquid which is a liquid at a temperature below 90° C. and comprises at least one ammonium and/or phosphonium and/or sulfonium cation Q+ and at least one anion A−; catalyst recycling is improved by using a ligand selected from the group consisting of Lewis bases and employing a depressurization step between the pressurized reaction step and the step for separating the phases by decanting. At the end of said depressurization step, the organic phase is separated in the decanting step and the non-aqueous ionic liquid containing the catalyst can be re-used.

Abstract: An improved process for preparing alcohols by the Oxo process. More particularly this invention relates to an improvement in the hydrogenation step of the Oxo process characterized in the use of certain bulk multimetallic hydrogenation catalysts comprised of at least one Group VIII non-noble metal and at least two Group VIB metals.

Abstract: Cobalt or rhodium carbonyl compounds are removed from an aqueous solution of 3-hydroxypropanal by a process comprising the steps of:(a) contacting the 3-hydroxypropanal solution with oxygen under acidic conditions at a temperature within the range of about 5 to about 45.degree. C. to produce an oxidation product mixture comprising an aqueous solution of 3-hydroxypropanal, one or more water-soluble cobalt or rhodium species, and byproduct carbon monoxide;(b) removing byproduct carbon monoxide from the oxidation product mixture as it is generated; and(c) passing the oxidation product mixture in contact with an acidic ion exchange resin maintained at a temperature less than about 45.degree. C. and removing at least a portion of the soluble metal compounds from the oxidation product mixture.

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: The instant invention relates to a method for converting phosphorus containing polymers from a two dimensional layered structure into a three dimensional structure by crosslinking such layers. The method and the resulting crosslinked polymers may be used to encapsulate active materials such as catalysts, pesticides, etc. by intercalating such active materials between the layers prior to crosslinking. Thus, the egress of said active materials into the environment during use may be hindered or prevented.

Abstract: A process for selectively removing alkyl substituted phosphine from an organic liquid containing same and triarylphosphine by treating said liquid with phosphoric acid.

Abstract: An improved process for de-cobaltizing the primary product of an oxo synthesis is disclosed wherein the primary product is contacted with steam introduced into a vessel to which the primary oxo product is introduced but initially maintained in out of contact relationship to such product by a cooling medium whereby heat transfer from the steam to the primary product is initially avoided. The primary product and steam are fed to a cylindrical reactor having a conical base, and after the steam has risen 1/2 to 2/3 of the height of the conical base it comes in contact with the primary product whose liquid level height in the vessel is maintained at one to two times the vessel's diameter. An apparatus for performing such process is also disclosed.

Abstract: This specification discloses an insoluble resin-metal compound complex, the method for its preparation, and its use in carrying out a catalyzed reaction. The complex is a weak base anion exchange resin which has been contacted with a solution of a coordination compound having at least two ligands connected to at least one central metal atom to bond chemically the resin to the metal atom by replacement of at least one of the ligands of the coordination compound by a functional group of the weak base anion exchange resin. The complex can be used as a catalyst for hydrogenation, carbon monoxide insertion, polymerization, isomerization, vinyl ester exchange, and ethylene oxidation reactions, among others.

Abstract: A process for the hydroformylation of an olefin, comprising reacting the olefin with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in a catalyst liquid containing a Group VIII noble metal-triarylphosphine complex catalyst, excess triarylphosphine and a reaction solvent to form an aldehyde, characterized by withdrawing a part of the catalyst liquid as a spent catalyst liquid, subjecting the spent catalyst liquid to crystallization, recovering crystallized triarylphosphine from the spent catalyst liquid, and recirculating the recovered triarylphosphine into the reaction zone.

Abstract: The present invention describes the production of high molecular weight polyhydric alcohols and their derivatives. In particular the urethane reaction products of polyisocyantes and polyhydric alcohols are described.

Abstract: The present invention describes the production of high molecular weight polyhydric alcohols and their derivatives. In particular the urethane reaction products of polyisocyantes and polyhydric alcohols are described.

Abstract: A hydroformylation process in which the catalyst is the reaction product of a cobalt carbonyl compound with a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound having an enolic hydroxyl group on the carbon atom adjacent to the ring-forming nitrogen atom or the catalyst is the reaction product of a .beta.-dioxo cobalt compound and a nitrogen-containing base having a double bonded carbon atom at the .alpha.-position, with carbon monoxide and hydrogen.