Transition-metal-catalyzed oxidation of carbon monoxide by dichlorine to produce phosgene

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ic00140a011

Halometal carbonyls of gold, palladium, and platinum catalyze the formation of COCl₂ from carbon monoxide and dichlorine at atmospheric pressure and room temperature under exclusion of light. Semiquantitative data show that the catalytic efficiency in this homogeneous process is Au > Pd > Pt. Attack at the carbonyl carbon of soluble halo-carbonyl complexes by coordinated chloride or by dichlorine to give unstable M-C(O)-Cl groupings is believed to be operative in these processes.