Patent ID: 7098369

Claim:
A process for converting parafins to primary alcohols comprising the steps of: (a) subjecting a paraffin feed comprising linear and/or branched paraffins to an oxidation reaction in the presence of an oxidation catalyst to form a mixture comprisng secondary alchols and/or tertiary alcohols and/or ketones; and; (b) reacting the mixture of secondary alcohols and/or tertiary alcohols and/or ketones with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst based on: (i) a source of Group VIII metal, (ii) a bidentate ligand having the general formula (I): R 1 R 2 M 1 -R-M 2 R 3 R 4 (I) wherein M 1 and M 2 are independently P, As or Sb; R 1 and R 2 together represent a bivalent substituted or unsubstituted cyclic aliphatic group whereby the two free valencies are linked to M 1 ; R 3 and R 4 independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group, or together represent a bivalent or unsubstituted cyclic group whereby the two free valencies are linked to M 2 ; and R represents a bivalent organic bridging group; and (iii) an acid having a pK a of 3 or less, wherein the acid is in stoichimetric excess to the Group VIII metal.