Preparation of acetals

Abstract

A process for the preparation of acetals by reacting one or more ethylenically unsaturated compounds with carbon monoxide, hydrogen and a liquid or dissolved organic nucleophilic compound containing at least two vicinal hydroxy groups in the presence of a catalyst system comprising: a) a source of plantinum; b) a source of anions; and c) a bidentate ligand of the formula R.sup.1 R.sup.2 M.sup.1 RM.sup.2 R.sup.3 R.sup.4 (I) wherein M.sup.1 and M.sup.2 independently represent a phosphorus, arsenic or antimony atom, R represents a bivalent organic bridging group containing from 1 to 4 atoms in the bridge, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together represent a bivalent substituted or non-substituted cyclic group whereby the two free valencies are linked to M.sup.1 and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 independently represent a substituted or non-substituted hydrocarbyl group, or together represent a bivalent substituted or non-substituted cyclic group whereby the two free valencies are linked to M.sup.2.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.