Metal-ligand complex catalyzed processes

A hydroformylation process which comprises reacting one or more olefinic unsaturated compounds with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organopolyphosphite ligand to produce a reaction product fluid comprising one or more aldehydes, and in which at least a portion of said hydroformylation process is conducted under conditions sufficient to effect at least some deactivation of the metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst, wherein said hydroformylation process is conducted in the presence of one or more free heterocyclic nitrogen compounds sufficient to prevent and/or lessen deactivation of the metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst, and wherein said one or more free heterocyclic nitrogen compounds are selected from the group consisting of diazoles, triazoles, diazines and triazines, and wherein said one or more free heterocyclic nitrogen compounds (i) have a coordination strength with respect to the metal of said metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst sufficient to effect at least some coordination with the metal of said metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst, and (ii) have a coordination strength with respect to the metal of said metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst less than the organopolyphosphite ligand of said metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst.

A continuous liquid recycle hydroformylation process which comprises reacting one or more olefinic unsaturated compounds with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst and optionally free organopotyphosphite ligand to produce a reaction product fluid comprising one or more aldehydes, and in which at least a portion of said process is conducted under vaporization separation conditions sufficient to effect at least some deactivation of the metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst, wherein said process is conducted in the presence of one or more free heterocyclic nitrogen compounds sufficient to prevent and/or lessen deactivation of the metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst, and wherein said one or more free heterocyclic nitrogen compounds are selected from the group consisting of diazoles, triazoles, diazines and triazines, and wherein said one or more free heterocyclic nitrogen compounds (i) have a coordination strength with respect to the metal of said metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst sufficient to effect at least some coordination with the metal of said metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst, and (ii) have a coordination strength with respect to the metal of said metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst less than the organopolyphosphite ligand of said metal-organopolyphosphite ligand complex catalyst.