Cobaltcarbonyl/pyridine catalysts

In the presence of 3-8 mol equiv. of pyridine as ligand (compared with Co) the phenomenon of ligand-accelerated catalysis [8] is observed with higher activity and improved selectivity of the catalyst system [9]. The cobaltcarbonyl/ pyridine catalyst system is applied industrially for the synthesis of higher alkanoic acids, e.g., the hydrocarboxylation of isomers of undecene yields dodecanoic acid with approximately 80% selectivity [10],... 

Hydrocarboxylation of the Ce-Cs a-olefins with cobaltcarbonyl/pyridine catalysts at 200 °C and 20 MPa gives predominantly the linear carboxylic acids. The acids and their esters are used as additives for lubricants. The Ce-Cio a-olefins are hydroformylated to odd-numbered linear primary alcohols, which are converted to polyvinylchloride (PVC) plasticizers with phthalic anhydride. Oligomerization of (preferably) 1 -decene, applying BF3 catalysts, gives oligomers used as synthetic lubricants known as poly-a-olefins (PAO) or synthetic hydrocarbons (SHC) [11, 12]. The C10-C12 a-olefins can be epoxidized by peracids this opens up a route to bifunctional derivatives or ethoxylates as nonionic surfactants [13]. 

---