Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation

James E Babin

David Robert Bryant

Gregory T Whiteker

John Michael Maher

Ernst Billig

Tak W Leung

David James Miller

Arnold M Harrison

James C Nicholson

Donald J Weintritt, Jr

This invention relates to asymmetric syntheses in which a prochiral or chiral compound is contacted in the presence of an optically active metal-ligand complex catalyst to produce an optically active product.

Asymmetric syntheses

This invention provides a process for stabilizing a phosphite ligand against degradation in a homogeneous reaction mixture containing a Group VIII transition metal catalyst and the phosphite ligand, said process comprising adding to the reaction mixture an epoxide in an amount from 0.001 to 5 weight percent based on the total weight of the reaction mixture to reduce the degradation of the ligand.

Process for stabilizing phosphite ligands in hydroformylation reaction

An improved rhodium-organophosphite complex catalyzed hydroformylation process, the improvement comprising carrying out said process in the presence of a catalytic activity enhancing additive said additive being selected from the class consisting of added water, a weakly acidic compound, or both added water and a weakly acidic compound.

Hydroformylation process

A process for improving the catalytic activity of a partially deactivated solubilized rhodium-tertiary organophosphine complex hydroformylation catalyst by treating it with propargyl alcohol and a carboxylic acid.

Reactivation of hydroformylation catalysts

A process for improving the catalytic activity of a partially deactivated solubilized rhodium - tertiary organophosphine complex hydroformylation catalyst.

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Hurricane, WV, United States of America

James E Babin