Bp Chemicals Limited

University of Sheffield

Peter M Maitlis

John Cook

Richard P Aplin

Francesco P Fanizzi

Thomas A Smith

An aliphatic ketone is produced by reacting a carbonyl complex of a metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements, for example a rhodium carbonyl complex, with an aliphatic hydrocarbyl halide, for example an alkyl iodide.

Process for the production of aliphatic ketones

Process for the production of methyl formate

The invention relates to the production of oxygenated organic compounds comprising alcohols, aldehydes, ethers and salts of carboxylic acids. Prior art processes for the production of ethanol in particular involve the use of elevated temperatures and pressures. Milder conditions can be used in the process of the invention in which either a mercury compound of formula (R.sup.1 OCHR.sup.2 CHR.sup.3 Hg).sub.n X (I), wherein X is an organic or inorganic anion, n is an integer equal to the valency of the anion, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are independently a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group and R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or the group --(--CHR.sup.2 CHR.sup.3 Hg).sub.n X, or the precursors of the compound (I), with a catalyst comprising a complex containing a metal of Group VIII, particularly rhodium, in the presence of a liquid reagent containing an active acidic hydrogen atom. A particularly suitable rhodium complex is one having the formula:

Process for the production of oxygenated organic compounds

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Sheffield, United Kingdom

Peter M Maitlis