Carbonylation process

• Main Author: MCVICKER; GARY B
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 30.07.1985
• Edition: 4
• Subjects: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS; CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOIDCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY; ORGANIC CHEMISTRY; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS; TRANSPORTING

A carbonylation process for the preparation of carboxylic acid esters is described wherein carbon monoxide is contacted with at least one alcohol in the presence of a catalyst system having the general formula: BxMe[Me'(CO)2(L)b]2 and a cocatalyst comprising halogen containing compounds in a cocatalyst to catalyst molar ratio ranging from about 1 to about 16, wherein B is a Lewis base capable of coordinating with a Group IIA metal; Me is a Group IIA metal, preferably magnesium, Me' is a transition metal selected from the group consisting of metals of Groups VIB, VIIB and VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements; L is a uni- or polydentate ligand or hydrocarbon capable of coordinating with the transition metal; x is a positive integer ranging from 1 to 4; a is a positive integer ranging from 1 to 5 and b is an integer ranging from 0 to 4, with the proviso that the sum of a and b is 5 or less. A typical preferred catalyst system is represented by the general formula: (C4H8O)4Mg[Co(CO)3P(C4H9)3]2 and a cocatalyst comprising methyl iodide.