Process for producing mixtures of ketones and aldehydes

摘要

A hydrocarbonylation process for producing an aldehyde or a mixture of a ketone and an aldehyde which comprises: (I) forming a reaction mixture comprising: (a) a catalytic amount of a complex catalyst consisting essentially of rhodium in complex combination with: (i) a triorganophosphine, and (ii) a carboxylic acid having a phenyl group substituted at the para position with a non-reactive electron-withdrawing group, said phenyl group being free of further substitution and said electron withdrawing group being substantially non-reactive in said process; (b) an alpha-olefin having 2 to 5 carbon atoms, (c) carbon monixide, and (d) hydrogen with the proviso that the reaction mixture has mole ratio of said carbxoylic acid to rhodium of at least about 2; and (II) maintaining the reaction mixture at a temperature and pressure at which said (b), (c) and (d) react to form an aldehyde or a mixture of an aldehyde and a ketone.