Hydrocarbonylation of linear and branched aliphatic C2-C4 alcohols catalyzed by cobalt-ruthenium systems. A comparative study.

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(88)80121-9

In an extension of studies of the hydrocarbonylation of C2-C4 alcohols in the presence of a bimetallic catalyst system at high Syngas pressures to yield the next higher homologue, the effect of the catalytic system based on cobalt and ruthenium compounds promoted by iodine or iodides has been examined.For the optimal Co/Ru ratio the selectivity for the higher alcohol is highest because of a large decrease in the extent of hydrocarbon and ether formation.Neither this ratio nor the optimal pressure depends on the structure of the alcohol.It is suggested that the synergism observed in Co-Ru-catalyzed hydrocarbonylation of alcohols is due to a cocatalytic effect of the Ru catalyst involving reaction of ruthenium hydrides with acyl-cobalt complexes.The mechanism is consistent with the suggestion that there is an intermediate olefin that undergoes hydroformylation in a subsequent step.