Patent ID: 8049043

Claim:
A process for the production of a C5 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 a C4 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 under conditions that convert normal butenes and convert at least 15% of the isobutylene to produce a mixture of isomers of valeraldehyde, wherein the C4 feed comprises at least 15 wt % isobutylene, or, in the alternative, at least 2 wt % isobutylene if the organophosphorous ligand comprises an organophosphite; wherein the process further comprises 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.