Montedison S.p.a.

Achille U Ronchi

Marco Foa'

Andrea Gardano

Gianfranco Cainelli

A process is herein described for preparing carboxylated organic compounds (acids, esters, alkaline salts) of formula ##STR1## wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group having up to 11 carbon atoms (an aliphatic, alicyclic, aryl- or heteroarylalkyl group), also substituted, in its turn, by groups inert under the reaction conditions (alkyl, aryl, etheric, thioetheric, halogen, nitrile, ester, amide, ketonic groups), and R' is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 group, by reaction of carbon monoxide with the corresponding hydrocarbyl halides, having the halogen bound to a non-tertiary carbon atom, in the presence of catalysts which are salts of cobalt hydrocarbonyl, or precursors thereof, in a hydro-alcoholic or alcoholic solvent and in the presence of bases. The process is characterized in that the catalytic system composed by the salt of cobalt hydrocarbonyl is supported on an anion exchange resin. The process permits to operate also continuously, in any case allowing an easy recovery, recycle and regeneration of the catalysts. The products obtained, i.e. carboxylic acids, esters and alkaline salts thereof, are utilized as intermediates for organic syntheses particularly for fine chemistry (phytopharmaceuticals, pharmaceuticals, etc.).

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Ancona, Italy

Achille U Ronchi