| abstract |
This invention concerns a continuous hydroformylation process comprising reacting an olefinic compound with hydrogen and carbon monixide in the presence of a reaction mixture comprising (1) a rhodium-containing catalyst having no reactive halogen and having at least one ligand complexed with said rhodium, the ligand comprising a complex compound containing at least one diaryl phosphino alkyl group and wherein the number of such diaryl phosphino alkyl groups in complex association with said rhodium is at least 2, e.g., (Ph2PCH2CH3)3Rh(CO)H, and (2), a non-complexed ligand substantially all of which is a non-complexed compounds containing at least one diaryl phosphino alkyl group, e.g., Ar2P(CH2)5PAr2 wherein the molar ratio of non-complexed ligand to rhodium is greater than 75:1 and wherein the ratio of the partial pressures of hydrogen to carbon monoxide is at least 3:1. |