Catalytic reactions

Claim 1

A process for the hydroformylation of an olefin, comprising passing a mixture of said olefin, hydrogen and carbon monoxide through a reaction zone where said mixture contacts a catalyst comprising a solid porous support having absorbed thereon a solution of a catalytic compound selected from the group consisting of RhH(CO) (PPh.sub.3).sub.3 RhH(CO) (PPh.sub.3).sub.2 and RhH(CO).sub.2 (PPh.sub.3).sub.2 where Ph is C 6 H 5 , in a solvent which is inert and essentially involatile under the reaction conditions, maintaining an effective amount of said catalytic compound absorbed on said support by feeding additional solution into said zone countercurrently with respect to the passage of said mixture through said zone, collecting the gaseous reaction product after passage of the mixture through said catalyst and separating therefrom any solvent therein, collecting any catalyst solution fed to said zone which is not absorbed by said support and recycling the separated catalyst solution and solvent separated from said reaction product to said reaction zone for absorption on said porous support.