PROCESS FOR THE SELECTIVE HYDROCARBOXYLATION OF PROPYLENE TO ISOBUTYRIC ACID

摘要

A process for the selective hydrocarboxylation of propylene to produce predominantly isobutyric acid in the liquid phase comprising reacting propylene, carbon monoxide and water at a temperature of from 75 DEG C to 150 DEG C and at a pressure of 250 psi (17.5 kg/cm<2>) to 5000 psi (350 kg/cm<2>) in the presence of a suitable solvent and a catalyst comprising palladium or a palladium compound, a phosphoamine promoter ligand compound and a hydrogen halide. In this way better yields of isobutyric acid are obtained.