An object of the present invention is to provide a bisphosphite compound giving higher selectivity for the target product with maintaining a high reaction rate. The present invention relates to a dihydroxybiphenyl compound represented by the following formula (1) and a bisphosphite compound represented by the following formula (2): ##STR00001##
wherein in formulae (1) and (2), each of R.sup.1 to R.sup.4, R.sup.11 to R.sup.14, and Z.sup.1 to Z.sup.4 is the same as defined in the description.

A solvent is at least partially separated from a catalyst. The catalyst comprises nickel and a bidentate phosphorus-containing ligand. The method for separation involves distilling a catalyst solution. The ratio of 2-pentenenitrile to 3-pentenenitrile in distillation column bottoms is controlled to reduce the amount of 3-pentenenitrile which is isomerized to form 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile. Isomerization of 3-pentenenitrile to 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile and subsequent isomerization of 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile to 2-methyl-2-butenenitrile, and/or hydrocyanation of 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile to methylglutaronitrile represents a loss in adiponitrile yield in a process for making adiponitrile.

Some embodiments of the present invention relate to processes to recover rhodium from a hydroformylation process. In some embodiments, the process to recover rhodium from the hydroformylation process comprises (a) treating a catalyst-containing stream from the hydroformylation process with 2.5 to 20 weight percent, based on the total weight of the stream, of a water-soluble organic amine of the following structure: wherein R.sup.32, R.sup.33, and R.sup.34 are each independently alkyls and ethoxylates, and wherein no more than one of R.sup.32, R.sup.33, and R.sup.34 is alkyl; (b) heating the resulting solution in the presence of syngas to a temperature of at least 65 C. to generate a rhodium-rich phase and a supernatant; and (c) removing the supernatant to recover the rhodium-rich phase.

##STR00001##

The present invention discloses a method for preparing a phenylboronic acid neopentyl glycol ester. A mixed nickel(II) complex with a formula of Ni[P(OR.sup.1).sub.3][(R.sup.2NCH.sub.2CH.sub.2NR.sup.2)C]X.sub.2 is used as a catalyst. The method comprises: in the presence of potassium methoxide, efficiently catalyze a cross coupling reaction between a phenyl chloride and a bis(neopentyl glycolato)-diboron to prepare a phenylboronic acid neopentyl glycol ester. The invention provides the first embodiment of using a mixed nickel(II) complex with phosphonate ester and nitrogen heterocyclic carbene ancillary ligands to catalyze a cross coupling reaction.

The present invention discloses a method for preparing a phenylboronic acid neopentyl glycol ester. A mixed nickel(II) complex with a formula of Ni[P(OR.sup.1).sub.3][(R.sup.2NCH.sub.2CH.sub.2NR.sup.2)C]X.sub.2 is used as a catalyst. The method comprises: in the presence of potassium methoxide, efficiently catalyze a cross coupling reaction between a phenyl chloride and a bis(neopentyl glycolato)-diboron to prepare a phenylboronic acid neopentyl glycol ester. The invention provides the first embodiment of using a mixed nickel(II) complex with phosphonate ester and nitrogen heterocyclic carbene ancillary ligands to catalyze a cross coupling reaction.

An object of the present invention is to provide a bisphosphite compound giving higher selectivity for the target product with maintaining a high reaction rate. The present invention relates to a dihydroxybiphenyl compound represented by the following formula (1) and a bisphosphite compound represented by the following formula (2):

##STR00001##

wherein in formulae (1) and (2), each of R.sup.1 to R.sup.4, R.sup.11 to R.sup.14, and Z.sup.1 to Z.sup.4 is the same as defined in the description.

The present invention relates to a two-stage hydroformylation process for producing pound of the formula (I) and to a process for producing a compound of the formula (V) comprising the two-stage hydroformylation process for producing a compound of the formula (I) followed by hydrogenation of the compound of the formula (I).

##STR00001##

The invention relates to a process for the production of 1,6-difunctionalized hexane derivatives from 1,3-diunsaturated hydrocarbons, preferably butadiene, wherein a hydroformylation with carbon monoxide and hydrogen is performed in the presence of an at least dihydric alkanol and during the hydroformylation the temperature is increased. The reaction yields the acetals of the 1,6-hexanedial derivatives which are isolated and further reacted to obtain the desired 1,6-difunctionalized hexane derivatives, in particular 1,6-hexanediamine, 1,6-hexanediol and adipic acid.

The invention relates to a process for hydroformylating short-chain olefins, especially C2 to C5 olefins, in which the catalyst system is in heterogenized form on a support of a porous ceramic material, and to plants for performing this process.

The invention relates to a process for hydroformylating short-chain olefins, especially C2 to C5 olefins, in which the catalyst system is in heterogenized form on a support of a porous ceramic material, and to plants for performing this process.