Process for the hydroformylation of certain acrylic acid derivatives

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A process for the hydroformylation of a compound of general formula, R1 - CH = ? - ? O - R2 I wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and R2 represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, which comprises hydroformylating the compound of general formula I with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the liquid phase in the presence of a homogeneous catalyst system comprising a) a rhodium compound and, b) one or more triphenylphosphites the phenyl, groups of which may optionally be substituted by halogen, alkyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms alkoxy having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms carboxy, or cyano, at a temperature in the range of from 50 …