Uop Lcc

Alan R Dodds

Tamotsu Imai

Edwin H Homeier

Ketones may be prepared from carboxylic acid esters by treating said esters at elevated temperatures in the range of from about 50.degree. to about 300.degree. C. and pressures ranging from 1 to about 300 atmospheres in the presence of a catalyst comprising a compound containing a metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table. In addition, reaction is also effected in the presence of a quaternary alkylammonium salt which will increase the conversion of the ester to the desired ketone. Examples of catalysts which are employed will include the salts, carbonyls, and organometallic complexes of rhodium and cobalt.

Preparation of ketones

Catalysts which comprise metal carbonyls or organometallic complexes in which the metal portion of the complex is selected from a Group VIII metal are useful in hydroformylation reactions. The catalysts which are homogeneous in nature may be recovered from the hydroformylation products by treating the catalyst complex with a nitrogen-containing compound in an aqueous phase whereby said catalyst may be easily separated from the hydroformylation products and recovered.

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Elgin, IL, United States of America

Alan R Dodds