karbonüleerimine

Karbonüleerimine, also known as carbonylation, is a chemical reaction in which a carbonyl group (C=O) is introduced into a molecule. This process typically involves the use of carbon monoxide (CO) as the carbonyl source. Carbonylation reactions are highly versatile and play a significant role in organic synthesis and industrial chemistry.

One of the most common and industrially important carbonylation reactions is the hydroformylation of alkenes. In this process, an alkene reacts with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a metal catalyst, usually a rhodium or cobalt complex, to produce aldehydes. These aldehydes can then be further processed into alcohols, carboxylic acids, or esters, which are valuable intermediates for polymers, plasticizers, and solvents.

Another prominent carbonylation reaction is the Monsanto process and its successor, the Cativa process, used for the industrial production of acetic acid from methanol and carbon monoxide. These processes also rely on transition metal catalysts, typically based on rhodium or iridium.

Other significant carbonylation reactions include the carbonylation of alcohols to form esters and the carbonylation of amines to form amides or ureas. These reactions are often facilitated by palladium catalysts. The ability to precisely introduce a carbonyl group allows for the construction of complex organic molecules with specific functional properties, making carbonylation a cornerstone of modern synthetic chemistry.