Patent Application

App. No. 12/454,156

Abstract

Claims (15)

1 . A process to produce 4-hydroxybutyraldehyde comprising reacting allyl alcohol with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a solvent and a catalyst comprising a rhodium complex and a 2,3-O-isopropylidene-2,3-dihydroxy-1,4-bis[bis(3,4-di-n-alkylphenyl)phosphino]butane.

2 . (canceled)

3 . (canceled)

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

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

6 . The process of claim 1 wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of C 5 -C 20 aliphatic hydrocarbons, C 6 -C 12 aromatic hydrocarbons, ethers, alcohols, and mixtures thereof.

7 . The process of claim 1 wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of toluene, cyclohexane, methyl t-butyl ether, and mixtures thereof.

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

9 . The process of claim 1 wherein the catalyst further comprises a monophosphine compound.

10 . The process of claim 1 further comprising hydrogenating the 4-hydroxybutyraldehyde in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to form 1,4-butanediol.

11 . (canceled)

12 . (canceled)

13 . (canceled)

14 . (canceled)

15 . (canceled)

Assignments (10)