The Oxidation of Olefins with Palladium Chloride Catalysts

Abstract The oxidation of olefins to carbonyl compounds with palladium compounds, especially the oxidation of ethylene to acetaldehyde, is at present carried out on a technical scale. The reaction takes place via a palladium‐olefin complex, the formation of which is inhibited by halide ions. Hydrolysis to the carbonyl compound is inhibited by hydrogen ions. The knowledge gained by studying the reaction of olefins with pure solutions of palladium salts allows important conclusions to be drawn concerning the action of technical catalyst solutions containing copper and palladium chloride.