| abstract |
Contacting acetyl anhydrides, such as acetyl sulfate, in an anhydrous environment with methane and carbon dioxide in the presence of an effective amount of a transition metal catalyst and reaction promoter, and an acid anhydride compound, and optionally an acid. Is generated by a method including: The acetyl anhydride can be contacted with water to produce acetic acid, or contacted with an alcohol to produce a product containing acetate and a product that can contain acetic acid. Optionally, a stoichiometric amount or less than that of the acetic anhydride can be fed to this type of continuous process to produce the corresponding acetic acid in situ. |