Process for the direct conversion of alkenes to carboxylic acids

1. A process for the direct conversion of alkene to the corresponding carboxylic acid comprising:

a) adding an alkene, forming a reaction mixture;

b) adding a complex, comprising a compound according to structure ( 1 ) and also Pd,

or a compound according to structure ( 1 ) and a substance comprising Pd

c) feeding in CO;

d) heating the reaction mixture such that the alkene and CO are directly to the corresponding carboxylic acid.

2. The process according to claim 1 ,

wherein the substance in process step b) is

PdCl 2 , PdBr 2 , Pd(acac) 2 , Pd(dba) 2 (dba=dibenzylideneacetone) or PdCl 2 (CH 3 CN) 2 .

3. The process according to claim 1 ,

wherein the process comprises the additional process step e):

e) addition of acetic acid.

4. The process according to claim 1 ,

wherein the process comprises additional process step f):

f) addition of water.

5. The process according to claim 1 ,

wherein the process comprises the additional process step g):

g) addition of p-toluenesulfonic acid.

6. The process according to claim 1 ,

wherein the reaction mixture is heated to a temperature in the range from 80° C. to 160° C. in process step d).

7. The process according to claim 1 ,

wherein the CO is fed in in process step c) such that the reaction proceeds under a CO pressure in the range from 20 bar to 60 bar.

8. The process of claim 1 wherein the corresponding carboxylic acid is an iso or n/iso mixture.

9. The process of claim 1 wherein the alkene is cyclic or acyclic compound and the acyclic carbon-carbon double bond is characterized as primary and the corresponding carboxylic acid is a mixture.