Binuclear rhodium complexes with bidentate phosphite, arsenite or antimonite ligands, useful as catalysts, especially for the production of aldehyde by hydroformylation of olefin

摘要

Binuclear rhodium complexes with bidentate phosphite, arsenite or antimonite chelating ligands. Binuclear rhodium complexes of formula (I) with bidentate chelating ligands of formula (II): Q--Q' = a bidentate ligand (2); Q<1>, Q<2> = phosphorus, arsenic or antimony; R<0> = a bivalent organic group; Z<1>-Z<4> = monovalent organic groups, or Z<1> plus Z<2> and/or Z<3> plus Z<4> may combine to form bivalent groups; x, z = 0-2; y = 0-4. Independent claims are also included for: (a) a process for the production of aldehydes by: (i) reaction of olefinic compounds with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in presence of a complex catalyst containing at least Rh and an organic phosphite; (ii) separation of the reaction product into aldehyde and catalyst liquid; and (iii) recycling catalyst liquid to the reaction zone, in which at least one of these stages is carried out in presence of a binuclear Rh complex (I) as defined; and (b) a process for the production of alcohols by direct hydrogenation of aldehydes obtained from process (a) or by dimerization of these aldehydes followed by hydrogenation.