PRODUCTION OF BETA-HYDROXYALDEHYDE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain the subject compound with high selectivity and at high yield without using much catalyst by reacting an oxirane with CO and H2 in the presence of a catalyst i.e., a transition metal modified with a specified ligand. SOLUTION: This compound is (E) a β-hydroxyaldehyde and is obtained by reacting (B) a 1,2-oxirane with (C) carbon monoxide and (D) hydrogen in the presence of (A) a transition metal modified with a phosphorus-oxygen-ligand or nitrogen-oxygen-ligand and working as a catalyst. A cobolt-carbonyl-catalyst combined with phosphine oxide is preferably used as the component A and the ratio of oxygen based on phosphorus in the phosphine oxide is preferably 0.5-2.0. High yield is expectable thereby without using any accelerant.