One step hydroformylation and hydrogenation process for preparing a 1,3-propanediol

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Process for one-step hydroformylation and hydrogenation synthesis of 1,3propanediol which comprises: (a) contacting a mixture of ethylene oxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, a non-water-mixcible reaction solvent and a hydroformylation catalyst composition; (b) heating said reaction mixture to produce a single-phase reaction product mixture containing 1,3-propanediol such that phase separation can be induced by temperature reduction; and (c) inducing phase separation by at least one method selected from the group consisting of: (i) temperature reduction combined with addition of a phase split-inducing agent to the mixture, (ii) temperature reduction combined with first adding a …