Catalytic reactions

A process for the production of butyraldehyde by the catalytic hydroformylation of propylene which is characterized by producing normal/iso product ratio of greater than 10:1 by bringing into intimate contact the following reactants a, b, c and d at a temperature and pressure such that they react together to produce the said product;

• a. gaseous propylene;
• b. hydrogen;
• c. carbon monoxide, the hydrogen and carbon monoxide being present in a molar ratio within the range of from 1:15 to 2:1;
• and
• d. a catalytically effective quantity of a hydrido carbonyl complex of rhodium which includes two phosphorus-containing stabilizing donor ligands selected from the group consisting of triphenylphosphine and triphenylphosphite;
• the improvement in said hydroformylation process consisting essentially of carrying out the said reaction in a rapidly stirred liquid medium consisting of at least one of the said phosphorus-containing stabilizing donor ligands in liquid form, the quantity of said ligand being such that the molar ligand to complex ratio is within the range 200:1 to 5000:1 and including the steps of removing from contact with the said liquid medium a product substantially composed of gaseous butyraldehyde and condensing said product.