Patent ID: 6452055
Filing Date: 2002-09-17
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
A process for the catalytic hydroformylation of olefins in a reaction mixture comprising a liquid, aqueous-organic medium in the presence of a water-soluble hydroformylation catalyst, characterized in thatfor a substantial period of the hydroformylation reaction, the aqueous-organic medium is present in the form of a microemulsion, which is made up of an oil phase containing the olefin or the olefin and its hydroformylation products, and an aqueous phase containing the water-soluble complex catalyst, and at least one nonionic surfactant, wherein at least one of the nonionic surfactants is an alkoxylated fatty alcohol and the nonionic surfactant is employed in quantities of from 5 to 30% by weight, based on the total reaction mixture and wherein addition of a monohydroxy aliphatic alcohol having from 3 to 7 carbon atoms as a co-surfactant is omitted.