SELECTIVITY BEHAVIOR IN HYDROCARBONYLATION OF METHYL ACETATE USING HOMOGENEOUS RH COMPLEX CATALYST

Hydrocarbonylation of methyl acetate using various homogeneous transit ion metal complex catalysts has been studied. It was observed that Rh( CO)Cl(PPh(3))(2) was the most active and selective catalyst for ethyli dene diacetate synthesis. The effect of the catalyst, methyl acetate, and methyl iodide concentrations; temperature; and partial pressures o f CO, H-2, and various transition metal complexes as co-catalysts on t he selectivity behavior has been studied. Palladium complexes were fou nd to enhance the selectivity of ethylidene diacetate substantially. C atalyst concentration, partial pressures of CO and H-2, and temperatur e also influence the selectivity pattern substantially. On the basis o f these results, a possible reaction mechanism is discussed. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.