Process for the hydroformylation of olefinically unsaturated compounds

A process for the production of an aldehyde comprising contacting an olefinically unsaturated compound, carbon monoxide and hydrogen at a reaction temperature of about 50.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C. and pressure of about 100 psi to about 2500 psi in the presence of a catalyst comprising cobalt carbonyl and a porphyrin promoter ligand represented by the formula:

• ##STR4## wherein each R can be independently selected from the group consisting of:
• (1) H;
• (2) C.sub.1-8 alkyl;
• (3) --(CH.sub.2).sub.y --COOT, wherein y is 1-4 and T is H or a C.sub.1-4 alkyl;
• (4) C.sub.1-8 alcohol radical;
• (5) C.sub.1-8 alkene radical;
• wherein each R.sup.1 can be independently selected from the group consisting of:
• (1) H;
• (2) phenyl;
• (3) substituted phenyl substituted with one or more carboxy groups or C.sub.1-4 alkyl groups or mixtures thereof;
• wherein the olefinically unsaturated compound is represented by the following formula:
• ##STR5## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of:
• (1) H;
• (2) C.sub.1-10 alkyls;
• (3--(CH.sub.2).sub.p --CN, wherein p is 0-3;
• and
• (4) --(CH.sub.2).sub.q --OH, wherein q is 1-10;
• wherein the molar ratio of the cobalt carbonyl to the porphyrin promoter is in the range of about 0.1:1 to about 20:1 and wherein the ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide is in the range of about 0.5:1 to about 10:1.