2446.     NEWITT, D. M., AND MOMEN, S. A.  Synthesis of Aliphatic Acids by Interaction of Olefins With Carbon Monoxide and Steam and Related Reactions.  Jour. Chem. Soc., 1949, pp. 2945-2948.

        It is shown that C₂H₄ and CO, in the presence of a suitable catalyst and at temperatures of 250° and upward, can unite with neutral or basic molecules, such as H₂O, EtOH, benzyl alcohol, NH₃, and aniline, to give acids, esters and amines.  The synthesis of propionic acid by this reaction has been studied at 150-400 atm. and 250°-330°.  The yield of acid in the products depends on the relative rates of its formation and thermal decomposition and also on the extent to which CO undergoes decomposition to CO₂.