| abstract |
Esters are prepared by contacting, under suitable reaction conditions, a feed stream comprising a primary alcohol of 1-4 carbon atoms per molecule (preferably methanol, ethanol) and carbon monoxide with a catalyst composition comprising (a) copper or a copper compound (preferably CuO), (b) zinc oxide, (c) at least one metal or compound of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of cobalt, ruthenium, iridium, platinum, molybdenum, and rhenium (preferably cobalt and/or rhenium) and, optionally, (d) alumina. |