Catalytic hydroformylation of unsaturated fatty derivatives with cobalt carbonyl

Two cobalt‐carbonyl oxo processes were developed to prepare useful products in high yield from fatty derivatives. In one process, hydroformylation in the presence of MeOH at 120 C gives dimethyl acetal esters from either methyl oleate or oleic acid. In the other, a two‐step process, hydroformylation (120 C) followed by hydrogenation (180 C) gives better yields of hydroxymethyl esters from both mono‐ and polyunsaturated fatty substrates. Recycling the cobalt catalyst was demonstrated for the second process. The acetal and acetoxymethyl derivatives of the oxo products have utility as polyvinyl chloride plasticizers.