Palladium/heteropolyacid/surfactant catalyst system

Claim 1

Composition useful for the catalytic oxidation of olefins to carbonyl compounds comprising: (a) one or more palladium components; (b) one or more heteropolyacid components conforming to the general formula H.sub.m [X.sub.x Mo.sub.a V.sub.b M.sub.y O.sub.z ] in which X is B, Si, Ge, P, As, Se, Te or I; M is W, Nb, Ta or Re; m, a, b and z are integers; x is zero or an integer; and y is zero or an integer such that ≦ (y+a+b)/z≦12 and m+Nx+6a+5b+N'y≦2z; in which each of N and N' is the number of the group of the periodic table to which X and M respectively belong; (c) one or more surfactants selected from the group consisting of: quaternary ammonium salts, alkali metal alkyl sulfates, alkali metal salts of alkanoic acids, alkali metal salts of alkaryl sulfonic acids, and 1-alkyl pyridinium salts; and (d) two or more liquid phases comprising an aqueous phase and an organic phase.