Abstract:
In the manufacture of carboxylic acids or derivatives thereof by chemical addition, in strong acids, of carbon monoxide to corresponding raw materials such as olefins, alcohols, branched saturated compounds and other hydrocarbons, ions of metals belonging to group IB of the Periodic Table are caused to exist in said strong acids to induce formation of metal carbonyls and the raw materials are allowed to react with carbon monoxide which is the constituent part of the formed metal carbonyls. As the carbon monoxide in strong acids is consumed by the reaction of the raw materials, metal ions are bonded with carbon monoxide from the gaseous phase to form metal carbonyls again. Thus, a large quantity of carbon monoxide always remains dissolved in strong acids to permit the reaction to proceed under mild conditions, enabling the desired products to be selectively obtained in high yields.