Direct hydroformylation of a multi-component synthesis gas containing carbon monoxide, hydrogen, ethylene, and acetylene

A process for the production of C.sub.3 to C.sub.6 aldehydes, comprising:

• hydroformylating a mixture containing unsaturated hydrocarbons
• (a) C.sub.2 to C.sub.5 olefins and mixtures thereof, and
• (b) (i) C.sub.2 to C.sub.5 alkynes and mixtures thereof or (ii) C.sub.3 to C.sub.5 cumulated dienes and mixtures thereof or (iii) mixtures of (i) and (ii),
• with CO, H.sub.2 and a solution of a rhodium complex catalyst produced by complexing Rh and an organophosphorus compound wherein the catalyst solution has a P/Rh atom ratio of at least 30 to produce aldehydes.

A process for the production of C.sub.3 to C.sub.6 aldehydes, comprising:

• hydroformylating a mixture containing unsaturated hydrocarbons
• (a) C.sub.2 to C.sub.5 olefins and mixtures thereof, and
• (b) (i) C.sub.2 to C.sub.5 alkynes and mixtures thereof or (ii) C.sub.3 to C.sub.5 cumulated dienes and mixtures thereof or (iii) mixtures of (i) and (ii),
• with CO, H.sub.2 and a solution of a rhodium complex catalyst produced by complexing Rh and an organophosphorus compound wherein the catalyst solution has a P/Rh atom ratio greater than the value R..sub.L wherein ##EQU4## wherein R.sub.B is the P/Rh ratio sufficient for a catalytically active Rh complex, pKa.sub.TPP is the pKa value for triphenylphosphine, pKa.sub.L is the pKa value for the triorganophosphorus compound, R is the gas constant, and .DELTA.S.sub.B is 35(N-1) cal/mole/.degree.K., wherein N is the number of coordinatively active P atoms per organophosphorus molecule to produce aldehydes.