Hydroesterification process

A process of hydroesterifying internal olefins to produce carboxylic acid esters of high normality by reaction of olefin, carbon monoxide and alcohol which comprises reacting same in the presence of a cobalt catalyst and a pyridine promoter at temperatures of about 170.degree. to about 200.degree. C. and pressures of about 1200 psi gauge to 1800 psi gauge, with cobalt constituting 2% to 6% by weight of the reaction mixture and the combination of cobalt concentration, temperature and pressure being such that the reaction rate is at least k=4 hr.sup.-1 and the ester product normality over 70%, adding a large amount of hydrocarbon to the resulting reaction product mixture thereby causing phasing, separating the phases with one phase containing substantially all the ester product, and the other phase containing in excess of 90% of the cobalt catalyst, and recycling the catalyst to the reaction.