US005744650A  Nicholson  et al.  [111  Patent  Number:  5,744,650  [451  Date of  Patent:  Apr. 28,  1998  United  States  Patent  [191  [54]  METAL-LIGAND  COMPLEX  CATALYZED  PROCESSES  [75)  Inventors:  James Clair  Nicholson.  Saint Albans;  David Robert  Bryant,  South  Charleston;  James Russell  Nelson.  Charleston,  all  of  W.  Va.  [73]  Assignee:  Union Carbide  Chemicals  &  Plastics  Technology  Corporation.  Danbury.  Conn.  [21]  Appl. No.:  757,744  [22]  Filed:  Nov.  26, l!J96  [51)  Int.  Cl. 6  .....................................................  C07C 45/50  [52)  U.S. Cl . .............................................  568/454;  568/451  [58]  Field of Search  ......................................  568/451.  454  [56]  References  Cited  U.S.  PlXfENT  DOCUMENTS  [57]  ABSTRACT  20  Claims,  1  Drawing  Sheet  This  invention  relates  to a  process  which  comprises  reacting  one or  more  reactants  in the  presence  of a  metal› organopolyphosphite  ligand complex  catalyst  and  optionally  free  organopolyphosphite  ligand  to  produce  a  reaction  prod› uct fluid  comprising  one or  more  products.  wherein  said  process  is  conducted  at (a)  a  carbon  monoxide  partial  pressure  such that  reaction  rate  increases  as  carbon  monox› ide partial  pressure  decreases  and  reaction  rate  decreases  as  carbon  monoxide  partial  pressure  increases  and which  is  sufficient  to  prevent  and/or lessen  deactivation  of the metal› organopolyphosphite  ligand  complex  catalyst  and (b)  a  temperature  such that  the  temperature  difference  between  reaction  product  fluid  temperature  and inlet  coolant  tem› perature  is  sufficient  to  prevent  and/or  lessen  cycling  of  carbon monoxide  partial pressure.  hydrogen  partial pressure.  total  reaction  pressure.  reaction  rate and/or  temperature  during  said  process.  4;1.77,627  7/1981  Bryant  .....................................  568/454  5;1.88,918  2/1994  Maher  et al  ...........................  568/454  Primary  Examiner-Gary  Geist  Assistant  Examiner-Sreeni  Padmanabhan  Attome_…  Agent,  or  Firm-Gerald  L.  Coon 