TH6479A - Process for hydroformation of olefins - Google Patents

Abstract

The process for hydroformylation of olefins involves reacting an olefinic compound with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the hydroformylation region in the presence of a catalyst solution containing rhodium and an organic phosphorus valence3 oxide. This produces an aldehyde with one more carbon atom than the olefinic compound. The organic phosphorus valence3 compound is then added to the reaction mixture, followed by distillation to separate the top product (aldehyde) from the high-boiling residue (rhodium). The high-boiling residue is then oxidized simultaneously or subsequently distilled to convert the organic phosphorus valence3 compound to its oxide. The oxidized residue is then recirculated back to the hydroformylation region as with the recirculated catalyst solution. The hydroformylization reaction occurs under the condition that the proportion of alcohol added to the recirculated catalyst solution is kept at a level not exceeding 14% by weight based on the total amount of olephenic compounds and catalyst solution added to the hydroformylization reaction site.

Claims (11)

1. The process for hydroformylation of olefins involves reacting an olefinic compound with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the hydroformylation region. A catalyst solution containing rhodium and an organic phosphorus valence3 oxide is present to form an aldehyde with one more carbon atom than the olefinic compound. The organic phosphorus valence3 oxide is then added to the reaction mixture. Distillation separates the aldehyde from the high-boiling residue containing rhodium, and the high-boiling residue is oxidized simultaneously. Alternatively, distillation can be performed to convert the organic phosphorus valence3 oxide to an oxide, and the high-boiling residue is recirculated back into the hydroformylation region along with the recirculated catalyst solution. An improvement is achieved by maintaining the proportion of alcohol used in the recirculated catalyst solution during the hydroformylation reaction. The hydroformylation reaction is performed under conditions that maintain the proportion of alcohol used in the recirculated catalyst solution at a level not exceeding 14% by weight based on the total amount of olephenic compounds and the catalyst solution added to the hydroformylation reaction site. 2. A procedure under claim 1 which oxidizes the high-boiling residual with the same distillation as to convert the organic compound of trivalent phosphorus into its oxide. 3. The procedure under claim 2, in which distillation is performed in the presence of molecular oxygen to oxidize the high-boiling point residue and to convert the organic compound of trivalent phosphorus to its oxides. 4. A procedure under claim 1 which oxidizes the high-boiling-point residue after distillation to convert the organic compound of trivalent phosphorus to its oxides. 5. The process under claim 4, which oxidizes the high-boiling residual in the presence of molecular oxygen after distillation. 6. The process under claim 4, which oxidizes the high-boiling point residue in the presence of peroxide after distillation. 7. The procedure under claim 6 involves recirculating the high-boiling residual back into the hydroformyl reaction area, similar to how the catalyst solution is recirculated along with the peroxide after distillation. 8. The procedure under claim 7 involves mixing the high-boiling point residue with the peroxide before recirculating it back to the hydroformylization reaction area. 9. The process under claim 6, which involves the oxidation of an olefenic compound by adding oxygen in molecular form to form a peroxide. 10. The process under Claim 1, in which olephenic compounds are internally branched olefins or mixtures of which internally branched olefins are the primary component. 11. The process under claim 1, in which the olephenic compound is a dimer of butene.