Patent ID: 6559344
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
A process for the hydroformylation of compounds containing at least one ethylenically unsaturated double bond by reaction with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst system comprising at least one metal of transition group VIII and at least one bidentate phosphine ligand, which comprises(i) reacting the compound(s) containing at least one ethylenically unsaturated double bond in a reaction zone in the presence of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and the catalyst system, (ii) taking an output from the reaction zone and separating it into a fraction enriched in product and a fraction enriched in catalyst system, (iii) if desired, subjecting the fraction enriched in catalyst system obtained in step (ii) to work-up and (iv) returning at least part of the fraction enriched in catalyst system, if desired after work-up, to the reaction zone, where at least one of the steps (ii) to (iv) is carried out essentially in the absence of carbon monoxide and hydrogen and in the presence of at least one monodentate phosphine ligand.