The role of acetyl complexes in the cobalt-catalyzed homologation of methanol

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/om50003a002

It is shown that stoichiometric hydrogenation of MeCOCo(CO)₃PMePh₂ in methanol yields a product distribution similar to that obtained during the homologation of methanol catalyzed by [Co(CO)₃PMePh₂]₂. The result suggests that the acetyl compound is an intermediate during the catalytic reaction.