Propylene-Based Process Hydroformylation of Allyl Alcohol

3 Propylene-Based Process Hydroformylation of Allyl Alcohol 

An alternative route to generate 1,4-butanediol is via the hydroformylation of allyl alcohol. This method was commercialized by LyondellBasell Industries and Dairen Chemical Corporation. Allyl alcohol is produced to isomerize propylene oxide derived from propylene over a lithium phosphate catalyst. Hydroformylation is performed to form 4-hydroxybutyraldehyde (Eq. (10.6)) followed by hydrogenation using Raney Ni catalyst to form 1,4-butanediol (Eq. (10.7)). The patent of Dairen Chemical showed 93% allyl alcohol conversion and 67% 1,4-butanediol selectivity and 31% 2-methyl-propanediol selectivity [7aj. 

The Rh(II) bidentate ligand hydroformylation catalyst developed by Kuraray has been licensed [7b]. This catalyst gives high linear selectivity and high activity at low pressure for the olefin having a functional group. 

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