| abstract |
In a process for preparing a diester of oxalic acid by the vapor phase catlytic reaction of carbon monoxide with an ester of nitrous acid in the presence of a catalyst composed of a solid carrier and a catalyst component supported on the carrier, the improvement wherein said catalyst component is composed of (a) a platinum-group metal or a salt thereof, and (b) at least one member selected from the group consisting of iron and an iron (II or III) compound, the atomic ratio of the component (a) to the component (b) as metal being from 10,000:1 to 1:4. |