Catalyst system

1. A continuous carbonylation process for high turnover carbonylation comprising carbonylating an ethylenically unsaturated compound selected from the group consisting of ethene, propene, 1-butene, 2-butene, isobutene, pentenes, hexenes, heptene, octenes, nonene, decenes, undecene and dodecenes, triisobutylene, tripropylene, internal C 14 -C 18 olefins, cyclododecene, methyl pentenoate, pentene nitriles, vinyl esters of a carboxylic acid, and an alkyl ester of an unsaturated acid, wherein the ethylenically unsaturated compound may be linear or branched, cyclic or uncyclic or part cyclic and in which the double bond may take any suitable position in the carbon chain and which includes all stereoisomers thereof, with carbon monoxide in the presence of a source of hydroxyl groups and a catalyst system comprising:

(a) a bidentate phosphine, arsine or stibine ligand of formula I or III

wherein:

Ar is an optionally substituted 6-membered aryl moiety;

A and B each independently represent lower alkylene;

K, D, E and Z are substituents of the aryl moiety (Ar) and each independently represent hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl, Het, halo, cyano, nitro, OR 19 , OC(O)R 20 , C(O)R 21 , C(O)OR 22 , NR 23 R 24 , C(O)NR 25 R 26 , C(S)R 25 R 26 , SR 27 , C(O)SR 27 , or -J-Q 3 (CR 13 (R 14 )(R 15 )CR 16 (R 17 )(R 18 ) where J represents lower alkylene; or two adjacent groups selected from K, Z, D and E together with the carbon atoms of the aryl ring to which they are attached form a further phenyl ring, which is optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from hydrogen, lower alkyl, halo, cyano, nitro, OR 19 , OC(O)R 20 , C(O)R 21 , C(O)OR 22 , NR 23 R 24 , C(O)NR 25 R 26 , C(S)R 25 R 26 , SR 27 or C(O)SR 27 ;

R 13 to R 18 each independently represent hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl, or Het;

R 19 to R 27 each independently represent hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl or Het;

R 1 to R 12 each independently represent hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl, or Het;

Q 1 , Q 2 and Q 3 (when present) each independently represent phosphorus, arsenic or antimony;

the Q 1 , Q 2 or Q 3 (when present) atoms are linked on available adjacent carbon atoms to the optionally substituted aryl moiety;

wherein:

A 1 and A 2 , and A 3 , A 4 and A 5 (when present), each independently represent lower alkylene;

K 1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl, 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 , —C(S)(R 27 )R 28 , —SR 29 , —C(O)SR 30 , —CF 3 or -A 3 -Q 3 (X 5 )X 6 ;

D 1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl, 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 , —C(S)(R 27 )R 28 , —SR 29 , —C(O)SR 30 , —CF 3 or -A 4 -Q 4 (X 7 )X 8 ;

E 1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl, 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 , —C(S)(R 27 )R 28 , —SR 29 , —C(O)SR 30 , —CF 3 or -A 5 -Q 5 (X 9 )X 10 ;

or both D 1 and E 1 together with the carbon atoms of the cyclopentadienyl ring to which they are attached form an optionally substituted phenyl ring:

X 1 represents CR 1 (R 2 )(R 3 ), congressyl or adamantyl, X 2 represents CR 4 (R 5 )(R 6 ), congressyl or adamantyl, or X 1 and X 2 together with Q 2 to which they are attached form an optionally substituted 2-phospha-tricyclo[3.3.1.1{3,7}]decyl group or derivative thereof, or X 1 and X 2 together with Q 2 to which they are attached form a ring system of formula IIIa

X 3 represents CR 7 (R 8 )(R 9 ), congressyl or adamantyl, X 4 represents CR 10 (R 11 )(R 12 ), congressyl or adamantyl, or X 3 and X 4 together with Q 1 to which they are attached form an optionally substituted 2-phospha-tricyclo[3.3.1.1{3,7}]decyl group or derivative thereof, or X 3 and X 4 together with Q 1 to which they are attached form a ring system of formula IIIb

X 5 represents CR 13 (R 14 )(R 15 ), congressyl or adamantyl, X 6 represents CR 16 (R 17 )(R 18 ), congressyl or adamantyl, or X 5 and X 6 together with Q 3 to which they are attached form an optionally substituted 2-phospha-tricyclo[3.3.1.1{3,7}]decyl group or derivative thereof, or X 5 and X 6 together with Q 3 to which they are attached form a ring system of formula IIIc

X 7 represents CR 31 (R 32 )(R 33 ), congressyl or adamantyl, X 8 represents CR 34 (R 35 )(R 36 ), congressyl or adamantyl, or X 7 and X 8 together with Q 4 to which they are attached form an optionally substituted 2-phospha-tricyclo[3.3.1.1 {3,7}]decyl group or derivative thereof, or X 7 and X 8 together with Q 4 to which they are attached form a ring system of formula IIId

X 9 represents CR 37 (R 38 )(R 39 ), congressyl or adamantyl, X 10 represents CR 40 (R 41 )(R 42 ), congressyl or adamantyl, or X 9 and X 10 together with Q 5 to which they are attached form an optionally substituted 2-phospha-tricyclo[3.3.1.1.{3,7}]decyl group or derivative thereof, or X 9 and X 10 together with Q 5 to which they are attached form a ring system of formula IIIe

and in this yet further embodiment,

Q 1 and Q 2 , and Q 3 , Q 4 and Q 5 (when present), each independently represent phosphorus, arsenic or antimony;

M represents a Group VIB or VIIIB metal or metal cation thereof;

L 1 represents an optionally substituted cyclopentadienyl, indenyl or aryl group;

L 2 represents one or more ligands each of which are independently selected from hydrogen, lower alkyl, alkylaryl, halo, CO, P(R 43 )(R 44 )R 45 or N(R 46 )(R 47 ) R 48 ;

R 1 to R 18 and R 31 to R 42 , when present, each independently represent hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl, halo or Het;

R 19 to R 30 and R 43 to R 48 , when present, each independently represent hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl or Het;

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

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

Y 1 , Y 2 , Y 3 , Y 4 and Y 5 , when present, each independently represent oxygen, sulfur or N—R 55 ;

n=0 or 1;

and m=0 to 5;

provided that when n=1 then m equals 0, and when n equals 0 then m does not equal 0; and

(b) palladium or a compound thereof in a continuous carbonylation process,

wherein the ACCF (product kg·hr −1 ·dm −3 ) is held at less than 0.5.

2. A carbonylation reaction medium and product stream thereof for a continuous carbonylation process comprising in the reaction medium an ethylenically unsaturated compound selected from the group consisting of ethene, propene, 1-butene, 2-butene, isobutene, pentenes, hexenes, heptene, octenes, nonene, decenes, undecene and dodecenes, triisobutylene, tripropylene, internal C 14 -C 18 olefins, cyclododecene, methyl pentenoate, pentene nitriles, vinyl esters of a carboxylic acid, and an alkyl ester of an unsaturated acid, wherein the ethylenically unsaturated compound may be linear or branched, cyclic or uncyclic or part cyclic and in which the double bond may take any suitable position in the carbon chain and which includes all stereoisomers thereof, carbon monoxide, a source of hydroxyl groups and a catalyst system comprising:

(a) a bidentate phosphine, arsine or stibene ligand of formula I or III,

wherein:

Ar is an optionally substituted 6-membered aryl moiety;

A and B each independently represent lower alkylene;

K, D, E and Z are substituents of the aryl moiety (Ar) and each independently represent hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl, Het, halo, cyano, nitro, OR 19 , OC(O)R 20 , C(O)R 21 , C(O)OR 22 , NR 23 R 24 , C(O)NR 25 R 26 , C(S)R 25 R 26 , SR 27 , C(O)SR 27 , or -J-Q 3 (CR 13 (R 14 )(R 15 )CR 16 (R 17 )(R 18 ) where J represents lower alkylene; or two adjacent groups selected from K, Z, D and E together with the carbon atoms of the aryl ring to which they are attached form a further phenyl ring, which is optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from hydrogen, lower alkyl, halo, cyano, nitro, OR 19 , OC(O)R 20 , C(O)R 21 , C(O)OR 22 , NR 23 R 24 , C(O)NR 25 R 26 , C(S)R 25 R 26 , SR 27 or C(O)SR 27 ;

R 13 to R 18 each independently represent hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl, or Het;

R 19 to R 27 each independently represent hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl or Het;

R 1 to R 12 each independently represent hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl, or Het;

Q 1 , Q 2 and Q 3 (when present) each independently represent phosphorus, arsenic or antimony;

the Q 1 , Q 2 or Q 3 (when present) atoms are linked on available adjacent carbon atoms to the optionally substituted aryl moiety;

wherein:

A 1 and A 2 , and A 3 , A 4 and A 5 (when present), each independently represent lower alkylene;

K 1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl, 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 , —C(S)(R 27 )R 28 , —SR 29 , —C(O)SR 30 , —CF 3 or -A 3 -Q 3 (X 5 )X 6 ;

D 1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl, 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 ,—C(s)(R 27 )R 28 , —SR 29 , —C(O)SR 30 , —CF 3 or -A 4 -Q 4 (X 7 )X 8 ;

E 1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl, 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 , —C(S)(R 27 )R 28 , —SR 29 , —C(O)SR 30 , —CF 3 or -A 5 -Q 5 (X 9 )X 10 ;

or both D 1 and E 1 together with the carbon atoms of the cyclopentadienyl ring to which they are attached form an optionally substituted phenyl ring:

X 1 represents CR 1 (R 2 )(R 3 ), congressyl or adamantyl, X 2 represents CR 4 (R 5 )(R 6 ), congressyl or adamantyl, or X 1 and X 2 together with Q 2 to which they are attached form an optionally substituted 2-phospha-tricyclo[3.3.1.1 {3,7}]decyl group or derivative thereof, or X 1 and X 2 together with Q 2 to which they are attached form a ring system of formula IIIa

X 3 represents CR 7 (R 8 )(R 9 ), congressyl or adamantyl, X 4 represents CR 10 (R 11 )(R 12 ), congressyl or adamantyl, or X 3 and X 4 together with Q 1 to which they are attached form an optionally substituted 2-phospha-tricyclo[3.3.1.1 {3,7}]decyl group or derivative thereof, or X 3 and X 4 together with Q 1 to which they are attached form a ring system of formula IIIb

X 5 represents CR 13 (R 14 )(R 15 ), congressyl or adamantyl, X 6 represents CR 16 (R 17 )(R 18 ), congressyl or adamantyl, or X 5 and X 6 together with Q 3 to which they are attached form an optionally substituted 2-phospha-tricyclo[3.3.1.1 {3,7}]decyl group or derivative thereof, or X 5 and X 6 together with Q 3 to which they are attached form a ring system of formula IIIc

X 7 represents CR 31 (R 32 )(R 33 ), congressyl or adamantyl, X 8 represents CR 34 (R 35 )(R 36 ), congressyl or adamantyl, or X 7 and X 8 together with Q 4 to which they are attached form an optionally substituted 2-phospha-tricyclo[3.3.1.1 {3,7}]decyl group or derivative thereof, or X 7 and X 8 together with Q 4 to which they are attached form a ring system of formula IIId

X 9 represents CR 37 (R 38 )(R 39 ), congressyl or adamantyl, X 10 represents CR 40 (R 41 )(R 42 ), congressyl or adamantyl, or X 9 and X 10 together with Q 5 to which they are attached form an optionally substituted 2-phospha-tricyclo[3.3.1.1.{3,7}]decyl group or derivative thereof, or X 9 and X 10 together with Q 5 to which they are attached form a ring system of formula IIIe

and in this yet further embodiment,

Q 1 and Q 2 , and Q 3 , Q 4 and Q 5 (when present), each independently represent phosphorus, arsenic or antimony;

M represents a Group VIB or VIIIB metal or metal cation thereof;

L 1 represents an optionally substituted cyclopentadienyl, indenyl or aryl group;

L 2 represents one or more ligands each of which are independently selected from hydrogen, lower alkyl, alkylaryl, halo, CO, P(R 43 )(R 44 )R 45 or N(R 46 )(R 47 )R 48 ;

R 1 to R 18 and R 31 to R 42 , when present, each independently represent hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl, halo or Het;

R 19 to R 30 and R 43 to R 48 , when present, each independently represent hydrogen, lower alkyl, aryl or Het;

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

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

Y 1 , Y 2 , Y 3 , Y 4 and Y 5 , when present, each independently represent oxygen, sulfur or N—R 55 ;

n=0 or 1;

and m=0 to 5;

provided that when n=1 then m equals 0, and when n equals 0 then m does not equal 0; and

(b) palladium or a compound thereof,

wherein the ACCF (product kg·hr −1 ·dm −3 ) is maintained at less than 0.5 in a continuous carbonylation process.

3. A continuous carbonylation process according to claim 1 , wherein each of Q 1 , Q 2 and Q 3 (when present) represents phosphorus.

4. A continuous carbonylation process according to claim 1 , wherein the low ACCF is held or maintained by suitable dilution of the carbonylation reaction medium.

5. A continuous carbonylation process according to claim 1 , wherein the catalyst system also includes as a further compound (c), an acid.

6. A continuous carbonylation process according to claim 1 , wherein the bidentate ligand is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-bis(diadamantylphosphinomethyl)benzene, 1,2-bis(di-3,5-dimethyladamantylphosphinomethyl)benzene, 1,2-bis(di-5-tert-butyladamantylphosphinomethyl)benzene, 1,2-bis(1-adamantyl tert-butyl-phosphinomethyl)benzene, 1-(diadamantylphosphinomethyl)-2-(di-tert-butylphosphinomethyl)benzene, 1-(di-tert-butylphosphinomethyl)-2-(dicongressylphosphinomethyl)benzene, 1-(di-tert-butylphosphinomethyl)-2-(phospha-adamantyl-P-methyl)benzene, 1-(diadamantylphosphinomethyl)-2-(phospha-adamantyl-P-methyl)benzene, 1-(tert-butyladamantylphosphinomethyl)-2-(di-adamantylphosphinomethyl)benzene and 1-[(P-(2,2,6,6-tetra-methylphosphinan-4-one)phosphinomethyl)]-2-(phospha-adamantyl-P-methyl)benzene, wherein “phospha-adamantyl” is selected from 2-phospha-1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-6,9,10-trioxadamantyl,2-phospha-1,3,5-trimethyl-6,9,10 trioxadamantyl, 2-phospha-1,3,5,7-tetra(trifluoromethyl)-6,9,10-trioxadamantyl and 2-phospha-1,3,5-tri(trifluoromethyl)-6,9,10-trioxadamantyl.

7. A continuous carbonylation process according to claim 1 , wherein the hydroxyl group containing compound includes water or an organic molecule having a hydroxyl functional group.

8. A continuous carbonylation process according to claim 1 , wherein the ethylenically unsaturated compounds may be non-substituted or substituted with lower alkyl (which alkyl group may itself be substituted, unsubstituted or terminated), aryl, Het, halo, cyano, nitro, thioalkoxy, OR 19 , OC(O)R 20 , C(O)R 21 , C(O)OR 22 , NR 23 R 24 , C(O)NR 25 R 26 , C(S)R 25 R 26 , C(S)NR 25 R 26 , SR 27 , C(O)SR 27 , wherein R 19 to R 27 each independently represent hydrogen, aryl or lower alkyl (which alkyl group may itself be substituted, unsubstituted or terminated).

9. A continuous carbonylation process according to claim 1 , wherein the Group VIB or VIIIB metal or a compound thereof is selected from Groups 6, 8, 9 and 10 of the modern periodic table.

10. A continuous carbonylation process according to claim 1 , wherein the ethylenically unsaturated compound is ethylene.