Carbonylation process

Abstract

A process for the carbonylation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds by reaction with carbon monoxide and a co-reactant in the presence of a substantially non-acidic catalyst system based on a palladium compound and a bidentate ligand of the formula R.sub.1 R.sub.2 M.sub.1 RM.sub.2 R.sub.3 R.sub.4 in which M.sub.1 and M.sub.2 may be phosphorus, arsenic or antimony atom, R is a bivalent organic bridging group, R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are independently substituted or non-substituted aliphatic groups, with the proviso that R.sub.1 together with R.sub.2, and/or R.sub.3 together with R.sub.4 form a bivalent cyclic group with at least 5 ring atoms whereby the two free valencies are linked to M.sub.1 or M.sub.2, respectively. Catalytic compositions employing the bidentate ligands used in this method in which M.sub.1 and M.sub.2 are phosphorous are also presented.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.