GB646424A - Process for producing aldehydes - Google Patents

Abstract

Aliphatic or cycloaliphatic aldehydes are produced by reacting hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and an olefine, a cyclo-olefine, an olefinic carboxylic acid in which the olefinic linkage is not immediately adjacent to the carboxyl group, or an ester of such an acid at a temperature of at least 80 DEG C. under a pressure of 10-50 atmospheres and with agitation in the presence of a cobalt-containing catalyst for the reaction, the olefine, cyclo-olefine, acid or ester having a saturation vapour pressure of not more than one atmosphere at the temperature of the reaction and having at least one hydrogen atom attached to each carbon atom of the olefinic linkage. The catalyst is preferably partly reduced cobalt oxide, activated with ferric oxide, and may be supported on an inert material, e.g. clay, kieselguhr, or bentonite. The aldehydoacids obtained, or their esters, may be reduced or oxidized, using the same catalyst and hydrogen or air to the corresponding hydroxy-acids or dicarboxylic acids and esters or half-esters, and these esters may be saponified. In examples, hydrogen and carbon monoxide are reacted with the following in presence of a cobalt-iron catalyst as above: (1) 1-octadecene; (2) pinene or dihydronaphthalene; (3) methyl oleate; (4) olive oil; (5) grapestone oil. The product of (3) is oxidized to give methyl half-esters of diacids, and the products of (4) and (5) are reduced to glycerides of hydroxy acids.