Two-phase Hydroformylation of Buta-1,3-diene and Hydrocarbon Mixtures Containing Buta-1,3-diene

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/prac.19983400509

The two-phase hydroformylation of buta-1,3-diene with (HRh(CO)[P(_m-C₆H₄SO₃Na) ₃]₃) the Kuntz catalyst system with excess P(m-C₆H₄SO₃Na)₃) gives high yields of C₅-monoaldehydes. Main product in this mixture is the reactive trans- and cis-pent-3-enal. In consecutive reactions the pent-3-enal is partially hydrogenated to n-pentanal, but also - favoured by the protolytic milieu of the two-phase reaction - aldol condensated to 2-propenylheptadienal. The hydrogenation product of the propenylheptadienal, 2-propylheptanol-1, is a good plasticizer alcohol with a wanted low vapour pressure. Especially promising is the two-phase hydroformylation of the unrefined C₄-fraction of the naphtha pyrolysis: after a more than 95 per cent conversion of the buta-1,3-diene also more than 80 per cent of the n-but-1-ene in the C₄-fraction is hydroformylated mainly to wanted n-pentanal. Less than 5-10% of the n-but-2-enes and the isobutene in the C₄-fraction react under these conditions to oxo-products (2- and 3-methylbutanal). Acetylenic compounds in the C₄-fraction are converted quantitatively into products.