Bidentate ligand, catalyst system containing such ligand and a process for the carbonylation of ethylenically or acetylenically unsaturated compounds using such a catalyst system

Abstract

Bidentate ligand of formula II, R1R2M1—R—M2R3R4  (II) wherein M1 and M2 are independently P, As or Sb; R1, R2, R3 and R4 independently represent tertiary alkyl groups, or R1 and R2 together and/or R3 and R4 together represent an optionally substituted bivalent cycloaliphatic group whereby the two free valencies are linked to M1 or M2, and R represents a bivalent aliphatic bridging group containing from 2 to 6 atoms in the bridge, which is substituted with two or more substituents. A catalyst system comprising: a) a source of group VIII metal cations; b) a source of such a bidentate ligand; and c) a source of anions, and use of such a catalyst system in a process for the carbonylation of optionally substituted ethylenically or acetylenically unsaturated compounds by reaction with carbon monoxide and a coreactant is provided.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.