Carbonylation of methanol and dimethyl ether in ionic liquids

Article abstract of DOI:10.1134/S0965544114040070

Carbonylation of methanol and dimethyl ether in various acidic ionic liquids (ILs) over catalysts containing rhodium complexes has been investigated. It has been shown that the presence of the H₂PO ₄ ^- anion in IL leads to a significant increase in the rate of carbonylation of methanol and dimethyl ether to methyl acetate and acetic acid. Ionic liquids and conditions under which a conversion of 92% with a 80% selectivity for methyl acetate is achieved have been selected. The catalytic system proposed can be reused without loss of activity.