Koch reaction

The Koch reaction is an organic reaction for the organic synthesis of certain tertiary carboxylic acids from an alkene, carbon monoxide and water ^[1].

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This process is used on an industrial scale with annual production of 150.000 tons.

When the substrate (a substituted alkene) is isobutene the applied pressure is between 5*10⁵ and 10⁷ Pa and the temperature between 0 °C and 50 °C. The acidic catalyst is a mixture of phosphoric acid and boron trifluoride. This reaction is a hydroformylation followed by hydrolysis.

Some industrially produced carboxylic acids are 2,2-dimethylpropionic acid (pivalic acid), 2,2-dimethylbutyric acid and 2,2-dimethylpentanoic acid.

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