Production of carboxylic acids from organic formate esters using rhodium complex catalysts

Claim 1

A process for the production of organic carboxylic acids of the formula RCOOH which comprises the catalytic reaction of organic formate esters of the formula HCOOR in contact with carbon monoxide and a homogeneous catalyst system consisting essentially of a rhodium metal atom component, a phosphorus containing ligand in which there is present at least one oxo oxygen atom attached to a phosphorus atom or a carbon atom to form a Z group and ##STR19## group and said Z group is located at least one carbon atom removed from the phosphorus atom of the molecules represented by the formulas: ##STR20## and a halogen source; wherein R is an alkyl group having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, or aryl or aralkyl groups having 6 to 10 ring carbon atoms with from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alk-moiety thereof, or alkenyl having from 2 to 30 carbon atoms; R' is H, aryl or aralkyl having from 6 to 10 ring carbon atoms and the alkyl moiety of said aralkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or an alkyl group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and wherein 1 or more of said R' groups can be substituted with a Z group but not more than 3 of said R' groups in the molecule are so substituted; a is an integer form 0-4; b is an integer from 0-3; and Z is a member selected from the group consisting of: ##STR21## wherein R" is R' or H and said reaction is carried out at a reaction temperature up to about 170° C. and a reaction pressure up to about 450 psig.