| abstract |
Synthesis gas (carbon monoxide and hydrogen) can be converted highly selectively into alkanols, especially methanol, by reaction at a temperature of at least 150 °C and a pressure of at least 35 bars in the presence of a catalyst comprising a ruthenium compound, a rhenium or manganese compound, and a quaternary ammonium or phosphonium compound, in the presence of an inert oxygenated solvent (ketone, ester, alcohol or preferably ether). Preferably a Group VB donor ligand, e.g. triphenyl phosphine, is also present. |