# US 4,399,233 A · Process for preparing low molecular weight oxygenated compounds from syngas using novel catalyst system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,399,233 A - Document ID: US4399233A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/357,231 - Filed: 1982-03-11 - Granted: 1983-08-16 - Earliest claimed: 1982-03-11 - Assignees: Texaco Inc. - Inventors: Roger G. Duranleau - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4399233A ## CPC - C07C 29/158: containing rhodium or compounds thereof - C07C: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS ## Abstract Low molecular weight oxygenated compounds, and particularly ethylene glycol and methanol, are prepared from syngas in good yield by contacting a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen with a catalyst system comprising a rhodium-containing compound, an organic ligand and a sulfonium salt, preferably dissolved in a suitable solvent, and heating the resulting mixture at an elevated temperature and pressure for sufficient time to produce the desired low molecular weight oxygenated compounds, and then recovering the same from the reaction mixture. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for preparing low molecular weight oxygenated products such as ethylene glycol and methanol from syngas which comprises contacting a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen with a catalyst system comprising a rhodium-containing compound, an organic ligand and a sulfonium salt, and heating the resulting mixture at an elevated temperature and pressure for sufficient time to produce the desired low molecular weight oxygenated products. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A process as in claim 1 wherein a solvent is added to the reaction mixture. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A process as in claim 1 wherein the rhodium-containing compound is selected from the group consisting of rhodium salts of organic carboxylic acids and the rhodium carbonyls and hydrocarbonyl derivatives. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A process as in claim 1 wherein the ligand is an oxygen-containing ligand. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A process as in claim 1 wherein the ligand is a nitrogen-containing ligand. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A process as in claim 1 wherein the sulfonium salt has the formula (R.sub.3 S).sup.+ X.sup.- wherein R is an organic radical and X is an anionic group derived from a mineral or carboxylic acid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A process as in claim 1 wherein the sulfonium salt is a member of the group consisting of trialkylsulfonium salts, tricycloalkylsulfonium salts, triarylsulfonium salts, tri(alkylaryl)sulfonium salts and the foregoing salts substituted on the hydrocarbon radical with from 1 to 3 halogen atoms, the foregoing salts substituted on the hydrocarbon radical with from 1 to 3 hydroxyl groups, the foregoing salts substituted on the hydrocarbon radical with from 1 to 3 alkoxy groups, and the foregoing salts substituted on the hydrocarbon radical with from 1 to 3 amino groups. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A process as in claim 1 wherein the organic ligand is a Group VB tertiary donor ligand. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) A process as in claim 2 wherein the solvent is an oxygenated hydrocarbon containing up to 12 carbon atoms. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) A process as in claim 2 wherein the solvent is a dialkyl ether of a poly(alkylene glycol). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A process as in claim 1 wherein the process is conducted at a temperature between 170.degree. C. and 350.degree. C. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A process as in claim 1 wherein the process is conducted at a pressure between about 1000 psi and 7500 psi. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A process as in claim 1 wherein the carbon monoxide and hydrogen are used in a ratio of 5:1 to 1:5. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A process as in claim 1 wherein the catalyst components are employed on a molar basis as follows: rhodium-containing compound 1 to 15 moles; organic liquid 0.5 moles to 15 moles; and sulfonium salt 0.5 to 5 moles. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A process as in claim 1 wherein the rhodium-containing compound is rhodium diacetate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A process as in claim 1 wherein the rhodium-containing compound is rhodium dicarbonyl acetylacetonate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A process as in claim 1 wherein the organic ligand is 2-hydroxypyridine. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A process as in claim 1 wherein the sulfonium salt is tris-(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfonium chloride. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A process as in claim 1 wherein the sulfonium salt is tris-(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfonium bromide. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A process as in claim 1 wherein the sulfonium salt is tris-(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfonium acetate. ### Claim 21 A process for preparing ethylene glycol and methanol from syngas which comprises contacting a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen with a catalytic effective amount of a catalyst comprising a soluble rhodium-containing compound, an organic ligand containing an element of the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorous, arsenic and antimony, and a trihydrocarbylsulfonium salt or a substituted tryhydrocarbylsulfonium salt dissolved in a substantially inert solvent, heating the resulting mixture at a temperature between 170.degree. C. and 350.degree. C. at a pressure between 1000 psi and 7500 psi for sufficient time to produce the ethylene glycol and methanol, and then recovering the same from the reaction mixture. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A process as in claim 21 wherein the sulfonium salt is a salt of the group consisting of chlorides, bromides, acetate, propionate, chromates and sulfates. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) A process as in claim 21 wherein the solvent is tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) A process as in claim 21 wherein the solvent is a sulfone.