Granted Patent B1

US 7,655,821 · App. 12/313,814 · Granted Feb 2, 2010

Abstract

Claims (10)

1. A process to produce 1,4-butanediol, comprising reacting allyl alcohol with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in an alcohol solvent in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a rhodium complex, a trialkyl phosphine ligand, and a diphosphine ligand, wherein the molar ratio of diphosphine:trialkyl phosphine is about 0.5 to about 2.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the trialkyl phosphine ligand is selected from the group consisting of trimethyl phosphine, triethyl phosphine, tri-n-propyl phosphine, tri-n-butyl phosphine, and mixtures thereof.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the diphosphine ligand is a trans-1,2-bis(bis(3,5-di-n-alkylphenyl)phosphinomethyl)cyclobutane.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the diphosphine ligand is a 2,3-O-isopropylidene-2,3-dihydroxy-1,4-bis[bis(3,5-di-n-alkylphenyl)phosphino]butane.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the diphosphine ligand is DIOP.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the alcohol solvent is a C 1 -C 4 aliphatic alcohol.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein the rhodium complex comprises rhodium and ligands selected from the group consisting of hydride, carbonyl, trialkyl or triaryl phosphines, diphosphines, cyclopentadienyls, 2,4-alkanedionates, and mixtures thereof.

8. The process of claim 1 wherein the reaction is performed at a temperature within the range of about 70° C. to about 140° C. and a pressure within the range of about 50 to about 1000 psig.

9. The process of claim 1 wherein the reaction is performed at a temperature within the range of about 90° C. to about 130° C. and a pressure within the range of about 200 to about 600 psig.

10. The process of claim 1 wherein the molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide is 2:1 or greater.

Assignments (14)