United States  Patent  [19J  Billig et al.  [111  Patent Number:  5,763,670  [451  Date of Patent:  *  Jun.  9, 1998  [54]  HYDROFORMYLATION  PROCESSES  [75]  Inventors:  Ernst Billig.  Huntington;  David Robert  Bryant.  South Charleston.  both of  W.  Va.  [73)  Assignee:  Union Carbide Chemicals  &  Plastics  Technology Corporation.  Danbury.  Conn.  [ *]  Notice:  The portion of  the term of this  patent  subsequent  to Nov. 26. 2016,  has been  disclaimed.  [21]  Appl.  No.:  756,498  [22)  Filed:  Nov.  26, 1996  [60)  Provisional application  No.  60/008,284,  Dec.  6, 1995, pro› visional application  No. f,0/008,286,  Dec.  6, 1995, provi› sional application  No.  60/008,289,  Dec.  6, 1995, and pro› visional application  No. 00/008,763,  Dec.  6, 1995.  [51  J  Int.  CL  6  .....................................................  C07C 45/50  [58]  Field of Search  ......................................  568/451. 454  [52]  U.S. Cl . .............................................  568/454;  568/451  Related U.S. Application  Data  [56]  References Cited  U.S. PATENf  DOCUMENTS  FOREIGN PATENT  DOCUMENTS  [57)  ABSTRACT  This invention  relates to a  hydroformylation  process which  comprises reacting  one  or  more olefinic unsaturated  com› pounds with carbon  monoxide and hydrogen  in the presence  of a  metal-organopolyphosphite  ligand complex  catalyst to  produce a reaction  product fluid comprising  one or more  aldehydes, wherein  said  hydroformylation  process is con› ducted at a free  organopolyphosphite  ligand concentration  sufficient to prevent  and/or lessen hydrolytic  degradation  of  the  organopolyphosphite  ligand and deactivation  of the  metal-organopolyphosphite  ligand complex  catalyst.  19  Claims,  1  Drawing Sheet  Primary  Examiner-Gary  Geist  Assistant Examiner-S.  Padmanabhan  Attorney, Agent,  or  Firm-Gerald  L. Coon  096987  12/1983  European Pat.  Off ..  3,917,661  11/1975 Roy et  al ..  4,835,299  5/1989 Maher et  al  ..............................  558/85  5,288,918  2/1994 Maher et  al  ............................  568/454  US005763670A 