Patent ID: 8178730

Claim:
A process for the production of a C 5 aldehyde mixture comprising n-pentanal, 3-methyl-butanal and 2-methyl-butanal wherein: i. the ratio of n-pentanal to 2-methyl-butanal is from 3:1 to 100:1; and ii. the ratio of 3-methyl-butanal to 2-methyl-butanal is at least 0.3:1; the process comprising: hydroformylating, at a temperature in the range of 50 to 180° C., a total pressure of not more than 10000 kPa, a partial pressure of carbon monoxide of below 5000 kPa, and a partial pressure of hydrogen in the range from 100 to 7000 kPa, a C 4 feed containing one or more normal butenes and isobutylene in a single liquid phase in the presence of a catalyst comprising a rhodium complex in conjunction with an organophosphorus ligand and convert normal butenes and convert at least 15% of the isobutylene to produce a mixture of isomers of valeraldehyde, wherein the C 4 feed contains from 15 wt % to 50 wt % isobutylene, or, if the organophosphorus ligand comprises an organophosphite, from 2 wt % to 50 wt % isobutylene.