Carbonylation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds

1. A process for the carbonylation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds comprising reacting said compound with carbon monoxide in the presence of a source of hydroxyl groups and of a catalyst system, the catalyst system obtainable by combining:

(a) a metal of Group 8, 9 or 10 or a compound thereof: and

(b) a bidentate ligand of general formula (I)

X 1 (X 2 )-Q 2 -A-R—B-Q 1 -X 3 (X 4 )  (I)

wherein:

A and B each independently represent lower alkylene;

R represents a cyclic hydrocarbyl structure having at least one non-aromatic ring to which the Q 1 and Q 2 atoms are linked, via B and A respectively, on available adjacent cyclic atoms of the at least one ring and which is substituted with at least one substituent on at least one further non-adjacent cyclic atom of the at least one ring;

wherein each adjacent cyclic atom to the said available adjacent cyclic atom is not substituted in a manner that forms a further ring structure or bridge via the other adjacent cyclic atom to the said available adjacent cyclic atoms in the at least one ring or via an atom adjacent to the said other adjacent atom but outside the at least one ring;

the groups X 1 , X 2 , X 3 and X 4 independently represent univalent radicals up to 30 atoms having at least one tertiary carbon atom or X 1 and X 2 and/or X 3 and X 4 together form a bivalent radical of up to 40 atoms having at least two tertiary carbon atoms wherein each said univalent or bivalent radical is joined via said at least one or two tertiary carbon atoms respectively to the appropriate atom Q 1 or Q 2 ; and

Q 1 and Q 2 each independently represent phosphorous, arsenic or antimony;

wherein the ethylenically unsaturated compounds are selected from the group consisting of acetylene, methyl acetylene, propyl acetylene, butadiene, ethylene, propylene, butylene, isobutylene, pentene, pentene nitriles, alkyl pentenoates, methyl 3-pentenoates, pentene acids, vinyl acetate, and octenes.

2. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the substituents on the said at least one further non adjacent cyclic atom are selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, aryl, halo, cyano, nitro, —OR 19 , —OC(O)R 20 , —C(O)R 21 , —C(O)OR 22 , —N(R 23 )R 24 , —C(O)N(R 25 )R 26 , —SR 29 , —C(O)SR 30 , —C(S)N(R 27 )R 28 , and —CF 3 , wherein R 19 to R 30 each independently represent hydrogen, unsubstituted or substituted aryl or unsubstituted or substituted lower alkyl, and/or may be interrupted by one or more oxygen, sulphur, silicon atoms, or by silano or dialkylsilicon groups.

3. The process as claimed in claim 2 , wherein there are two or more said further non-adjacent cyclic atoms in the at least one ring which may each be independently substituted or the substituents may combine to form a further ring structure.

4. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cyclic hydrocarbyl structure which is substituted by A and B at available adjacent positions on the at least one ring has a cis-conformation with respect to the relevant cyclic bond and the A and B substituents.

5. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cyclic hydrocarbyl structure has from 5 up to 30 cyclic atoms.

6. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cyclic hydrocarbyl structure is selected from the group consisting of 4 and/or 5 lower alkylcyclohexane-1,2-diyl, 4 lower alkylcyclopentane-1,2-diyl, 4,5 and/or 6 lower alkylcycloheptane-1,2-diyl, 4,5, 6 and/or 7 lower alkylcyclooctane-1,2-diyl, 4,5,6,7 and/or 8 lower alkylcyclononane-1,2-diyl, 5 and/or 6 lower alkyl piperidinane-2,3-diyl, 5 and/or 6 lower alkyl morpholinane-2,3-diyl, O-2,3-isopropylidene-2,3-dihydroxy-ethane-2,3-diyl, cyclopentan-one-3,4-diyl, cyclohexanone-3,4-diyl, 6-lower alkyl cyclohexanone-3,4-diyl, 1-lower alkyl cyclopentene-3,4-diyl, 1 and/or 6 lower alkyl cyclohexene-3,4-diyl, 2 and/or 3 lower alkyl cyclohexadiene-5,6-diyl, 5 lower alkyl cyclohexen-4-one-1,2-diyl, adamantyl-1-2-diyl, 5 and/or 6 lower alkyl tetrahydropyran-2,3 diyl, 6-lower alkyl dihydropyran-2,3 diyl, 2-lower alkyl 1,3 dioxane-5,6-diyl, 5 and/or 6 lower alkyl-1,4 dioxane-2,3-diyl, 2-lower alkyl pentamethylene sulphide 4,5-diyl, 2-lower alkyl-1,3 dithiane-5,6-diyl, 2 and/or 3-lower alkyl 1,4 dithiane-5,6-diyl, tetrahydro-furan-2-one-4,5-diyl, delta-valero lactone 4,5-diyl, gamma-butyrolactone 3,4-diyl, 2H-dihydropyrone 5,6-diyl, glutaric anhydride 3,4-diyl, 1-lower alkyl pyrrolidine-3,4-diyl, 2,3 di-lower alkyl piperazine-5,6-diyl, 2-lower alkyl dihydro imidazole-4,5-diyl, 2,3,5 and/or 6 lower alkyl-1,4,7 triazacyclononane-8,9-diyl, 2,3,4 and/or 10 lower alkyl-1,5,9 triazacyclodecane 6,7-diyl, 2,3-di-lower alkyl thiomorpholine-5,6-diyl, 2-lower alkyl-thiazolidine-4,5-diyl, 4,5-diphenyl-cyclohexane-1,2-diyl, 4 and/or 5-phenyl-cyclohexane-1,2-diyl, 4,5-dimethyl-cyclohexane-1,2-diyl, 4 or 5-methylcyclohexane-1,2-diyl,2,3,4 and/or 5 lower alkyl-decahydronaphthalene 8,9-diyl, bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane-3,4 diyl, 3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-1H-inden-5,6-diyl, 1, 2 and/or 3 methyl-3a, 4,5,6,7,7a hexahydro-1H-inden-5,6-diyl, Octahydro-4,7 methano-indene-1,2-diyl, 3a, 4,7,7a-tetrahydro-1H-inden-5,6-diyl, 1,2 and/or 3-dimethyl-3a, 4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-1H-inden 5,6-diyls, and 1,3-bis(trimethylsilyl)-3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-3H-isobenzofuran-5,6-diyl.

7. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cyclic hydrocarbon bridging group -A-R—B— is selected from the group consisting of the following structures wherein R′ and R″ represent hydrogen or a substituent and may be the same or different and wherein at least one R′ atom is not hydrogen or representing the hetero atom being non substituted if linked directly to a hetero atom:

where there is more than one stereoisomeric-form possible, all such stereoisomers are intended.

8. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the group X 1 represents CR 1 (R 2 )(R 3 ), X 2 represents CR 4 (R 5 )(R 6 ), X 3 represents CR 7 (R 8 )(R 9 ) and X 4 represents CR 10 (R 11 )(R 12 ), wherein R 1 to R 12 represent lower alkyl, or aryl.

9. The process as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the organic groups R 1 -R 3 , R 4 -R 6 , R 7 -R 9 and/or R 10 -R 12 or, alternatively, R 1 -R 6 and/or R 7 -R 12 when associated with their respective tertiary carbon atom(s) form composite groups which are at least as sterically hindering as t-butyl(s).

10. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when cyclic, X 1 , X 2 , X 3 and/or X 4 represent congressyl, norbornyl, 1-norbornadienyl or adamantyl.

11. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein X 1 and X 2 together with Q 2 to which they are attached form an optionally substituted 2-Q 2 -tricyclo[3.3.1.1{3,7}]decyl group, or X 1 and X 2 together with Q 2 to which they are attached form a ring system of formula 1a

wherein R 49 , R 54 and R 55 , when present, each independently represent hydrogen, lower alkyl or aryl;

wherein R 50 to R 53 , when present, each independently represent hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl or Het; and

wherein Y 1 represents oxygen, sulfur or N—R 55 .

12. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein X 3 and X 4 together with Q 1 to which they are attached may form an optionally substituted 2-Q1-tricyclo[3.3.1.1{3,7}]decyl group, or X 3 and X 4 together with Q 1 to which they are attached form a ring system of formula 1b

wherein R 49 , R 54 and R 55 , when present, each independently represent hydrogen, lower alkyl or aryl;

wherein R 50 to R 53 , when present, each independently represent hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl or Het; and

wherein Y 2 represents oxygen, sulfur or N—R 55 .

13. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bidentate ligands are selected from the group consisting of cis-1,2-bis(di-t-butylphosphinomethyl)-4,5-dimethyl cyclohexane; cis-1,2-bis(di-t-butylphosphinomethyl)-5-methylcyclopentane; cis-1,2-bis(2-phosphinomethyl-1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-6,9,10-trioxa-adamantyl)-4,5-dimethylcyclohexane; cis-1,2-bis(2-phosphinomethyl-1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-6,9,10-trioxa-adamantyl) 5-methylcyclopentane; cis-1,2-bis(di-adamantylphosphinomethyl)-4,5 dimethylcyclohexane; cis-1,2-bis(di-adamantylphosphinomethyl)-5-methyl cyclopentane; cis-1-(P,P adamantyl, t-butyl phosphinomethyl)-2-(di-t-butylphosphinomethyl)-4,5-dimethylcyclohexane; cis-1-(P,P adamantyl, t-butyl phosphinomethyl)-2-(di-t-butylphosphinomethyl)-5-methylcyclopentane; cis-1-(2-phosphinomethyl-1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-6,9,10-trioxa-adamantyl)-2-(di-t-butylphosphinomethyl)4,5-dimethylcyclohexane; cis-1-(2-phosphinomethyl-1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-6,9,10-trioxa-adamantyl)-2-(di-t-butylphosphinomethyl)-5-methyl cyclopentane; cis-1-(2-phosphinomethyl-1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-6,9,10-trioxa-adamantyl)-2-(diadamantylphosphinomethyl)-5-methyl cyclohexane; cis-1-(2-phosphinomethyl-1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-6,9,10-trioxa-adamantyl)-2-(diadamantylphosphinomethyl)-5-methyl cyclopentane; cis-1-(2-phosphinomethyl-1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-6,9,10-trioxa-adamantyl)-2-(diadamantylphosphinomethyl)cyclobutane; cis-1-(di-t-butylphosphinomethyl)-2-(diadamantylphosphinomethyl)-4,5-dimethyl cyclohexane; cis-1-(di-t-butylphosphinomethyl)-2-(diadamantylphosphinomethyl)-5-methyl cyclopentane; cis-1,2-bis(2-phosphinomethyl-1,3,5-trimethyl-6,9,10-trioxatricyclo-{3.3.1.1[3.7]}decyl)-4,5-dimethyl cyclohexane; cis-1,2-bis(2-phosphinomethyl-1,3,5-trimethyl-6,9,10-trioxatricyclo-{3.3.1.1[3 0.7]}decyl)-5-methyl cyclopentane; cis-1-(2-phosphinomethyl-1,3,5-trimethyl-6,9,10-trioxatricyclo-{3.3.1.1[3.7]}decyl)-2-(di-t-butylphosphinomethyl)-4,5-dimethyl cyclohexane; cis-1-(2-phosphinomethyl-1,3,5-trimethyl-6,9,10-trioxatricyclo-{3.3.1.1[3.7]}decyl)-2-(di-t-butylphosphinomethyl)-5-methyl cyclopentane; cis-1-(2-phosphinomethyl-1,3,5-trimethyl-6,9,10-trioxatricyclo-{3.3.1.1[3.7]}decyl)-2-(diadamantylphosphinomethyl)-4,5-dimethyl cyclohexane; cis-1-(2-phosphinomethyl-1,3,5-trimethyl-6,9,10-trioxatricyclo-{3.3.1.1[3.7]}decyl)-2-(diadamantylphosphinomethyl)-5-methyl cyclopentane; cis-1,2-bis-perfluoro(2-phosphinomethyl-1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-6,9,10-trioxatricyclo {3.3.1.1[3.7]}-decyl)-4,5-dimethyl cyclohexane; cis-1,2-bis-perfluoro(2-phosphinomethyl-1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-6,9,10-trioxatricyclo {3.3.1.1[3.7]}decyl)-5-methyl cyclopentane; cis-1,2-bis-(2-phosphinomethyl-1,3,5,7-tetra(trifluoro-methyl)-6,9,10-trioxatricyclo {3.3.1.1[3.7]}decyl)-4,5-dimethyl cyclohexane; cis-1,2-bis-(2-phosphinomethyl-1,3,5,7-tetra(trifluoro-methyl)-6,9,10-trioxatricyclo {3.3.1.1[3.7]}decyl)-5-methyl cyclopentane

14. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the ratio of linear:branched product from the carbonylation process is greater than 0.5:1.

15. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the ethylenically unsaturated compounds are selected from the group consisting of ethylene, vinyl acetate, butadiene, alkyl pentenoates, pentenenitriles, pentene acids, 3-pentenoic acid, acetylene and propylene.

16. A process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the substituents on the said at least one further non adjacent cyclic atom is a group Y where Y represents a group which is at least as sterically hindering as phenyl and when there are two or more substituents Y they are each as sterically hindering as phenyl and/or combine to form a group which is more sterically hindering than phenyl.

17. A process according to claim 16 , wherein Y represents S′R 40 R 41 R 42 ;

wherein S′ represents Si, C, or aryl;

when S′ is aryl,

R 40 , R 41 and R 42 are independently hydrogen, lower alkyl, —BQ 3 -X 3 (X 4 ) (wherein Q 3 is phosphorous, arsenic or antimony), aryl, arylene, alkaryl, arylenalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, het, halo, cyano, nitro, —OR 19 , —OC(O)R 20 , C(O)R 21 , C(O)OR 22 , —N(R 23 )R 24 , —C(O)N(R 25 )R 26 , —SR 29 , —C(O)SR 30 , —C(S)N(R 27 )R 28 , —CF 3 , —SiR 71 R 72 R 73 or alkylphosphorous;

when S′ is Si or C,

R 40 , R 41 and R 42 are independently hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl, arylene, alkaryl, aralkyl, arylenalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, het, halo, cyano, nitro, —OR 19 , —OC(O)R 20 , —C(O)R 21 , —C(O)OR 22 , —N(R 23 )R 24 , C(O)N(R 25 )R 26 , SR 29 , —C(O)SR 30 , —C(S)N(R 27 )R 28 , —CF 3 , —SiR 71 R 72 R 73 , or alkylphosphorous,

wherein at least one of R 40 -R 42 is not hydrogen and

wherein R 19 , R 20 , R 22 -R 30 each independently represent hydrogen, unsubstituted or substituted aryl or unsubstituted or substituted lower alkyl, and/or may be interrupted by one or more oxygen, sulphur, silicon atoms, or by silano or dialkylsilicon groups;

wherein R 21 represents hydrogen, unsubstituted or substituted aryl or unsubstituted or substituted lower alkyl, and/or may be interrupted by one or more oxygen, sulphur, silicon atoms, or by silano or dialkylsilicon groups, nitro, halo, amino or thio; and

wherein R 71 -R 73 are lower alkyl, aryl, arylene, alkaryl, aralkyl, arylenalkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl.

18. The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bidentate ligand is

19. The process as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the cyclic hydrocarbon bridging group -A-R—B— is