GB665705A - Improvements in synthesis of primary alcohols - Google Patents

Abstract

Primary alcohols are prepared by reacting an olefinic hydrocarbon having from 2 to 30 carbon atoms per molecule with carbon monoxide and hydrogen at a temperature in the range of 250 DEG to 400 DEG C. under a pressure of 325-1500 atmospheres, in the presence of from 0.1 to 1.5 parts by weight of water per part of olefine hydrocarbon in the presence of a cobalt salt as catalyst, the cobalt salt being dissolved in at least one of the ingredients of the reaction mixture. Suitable cobalt salts are [Co(CO)4]2, HCo(CO)4, cobalt chloride, cobalt sulphate, cobalt nitrate, cobalt acetate, cobalt propionate, cobalt isobutyrate, cobalt laurate, and cobalt naphthenate. Suitable olefinic hydrocarbons are propylenes, the butenes, butadiene, vinyl cyclohexene, vinyl acetylene, cyclohexene, hexenes, diisobutylene, styrene, tripropylene, tetrapropylene, triisobutylene and tetra-isobutylene. Other inert gaseous or liquid diluents may be employed in addition to water, e.g. benzene and dioxane. In the examples: (a) diisobutylene is reacted in the presence of water and cobalt acetate with a mixture of hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide to give 3,5,5-trimethyl-hexanol-1; (b) propylene is reacted with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of cobalt acetate and water to p give n-butanol, isobutanol and some butyl formate; (c) vinylcyclohexene is reacted with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of cobalt acetate and water to give monohydric and dihydric alcohols; (d) tetraisobutylene is reacted with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of water and cobalt acetate; and (e) ethylene is reacted with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of cobalt acetate and water to give methyl pentanol-1. Specifications 631,316, 637,999, 638,754 and 662,706 are referred to.