Process for reducing heavy tail fraction formation and catalyst loss in hydroformylation processes

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for reducing heavy tail fraction formation and catalyst loss in a continuous hydroformylation process in which an olefin or olefin mixture is reacted with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in a reactor group (1) in the presence of a rhodium complex catalyst comprising at least one organobisphosphite ligand to produce an aldehyde. The process includes adding an epoxide to the reaction mixture and continuously or intermittently removing an early heavy tail fraction.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a method for reducing the formation of heavy ends and the loss of catalyst in a continuous hydroformylation process in which olefins or mixtures of olefins are mixed with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in reactor group (1) The aldehyde is reacted in the presence of a rhodium complex catalyst comprising at least one organobisphosphite ligand. The process involves adding epoxides to the reaction mixture and removing early heavy ends continuously or intermittently. Background technique [0002] Hydroformylation, also known as oxo, is an important industrial process that produces aldehydes by reacting olefins with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of transition metal catalyst complexes. A known preferred process involves continuous hydroformylation and recycling of the catalyst solution containing the metal-organophosphorous ligand complex catalyst, wherein the metal is a Group VIII transition metal, preferably rh...

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Problems solved by technology

However, the patent does not address the heavy ends complication and how epoxides would affect the amount of heavy ends in a continuous hydroformylation process

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