| abstract |
The invention relates to the production of lactones by means of the catalytic carbonylation of oxiranes. According to the invention, the catalyst used is a catalyst system consisting of a) at least one cobalt compound as component A, and b) at least one metallic compound of general formula (I) as component B In formula (I) MXxRn-x, M represents an alkaline earth metal or a metal pertaining to groups 3, 4, 12 or 13 of the periodic table, R represents hydrogen or a hydrocarbon radical which can be substituted on all of the carbon atoms except the carbon atom linked to M, X represents an anion, n represents a number corresponding to the valency of M, and x represents a number between 0 and n, the selection of n and x resulting in charge neutrality. |