PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PRIMARY ALCOHOLS

摘要

A process for producing primary alcohols from secondary alcohols and/or tertiary alcohols and/or ketones, wherein the process comprises reacting a compound selected from a secondary alcohol, a tertiary alcohol, a ketone, or mixtures thereof, 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> 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 group whereby the two free valencies are linked to M; R<3> and R<4> independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group, or together represent a bivalent or non-substituted cyclic group whereby the two free valencies are linked to M<2>; and R represents a bivalent aliphatic bridging group; and iii) an acid having a pKa of 3 or less which is in excess over the Group VIII metal.