Process for making 4-acetoxybutyraldehyde and 4-acetoxybutanol

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Hydroformylation of 1-propenyl acetate under hydroformylating conditions with a cobalt hydroformylation catalyst produces 4-acetoxybutyraldehyde as the predominant component of a mixture with its two isomers 2-acetoxybutyr-, aldehyde and 3-acetoxy-2-methylproplonaldehyde. Some reduction of these aldehydes to their corresponding alcohols also occurs. The yield of these alcohols can be increased to the point where they are the predominant products either, by increasing the reaction temperature at least for the, terminal portion of the reaction period or by use of, phosphine -modified cobalt hydroformylation catalyst.