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.



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.