# US 4,400,551 A · Process for the production of acetaldehyde and ethanol

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 4,400,551 A
- Document ID: US4400551A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/294,293
- Filed: 1981-08-19
- Granted: 1983-08-23
- Earliest claimed: 1980-08-21
- Assignees: Union Rheinische Braunkohlen Kraftstoff Aktiengesellschaft
- Inventors: Karl-Heinz Keim; Joachim Korff
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4400551A

## CPC

- C07C 29/32: increasing the number of carbon atoms by reactions without formation of -OH groups
- C07C 45/49: by reaction with carbon monoxide
- C07C: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS

## Abstract

This invention relates to a process for the production of acetaldehyde and ethanol by reacting methanol with carbon monoxide and hydrogen at elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of a catalyst containing cobalt, biphosphine, biarsine or bistibine and hydrogen iodide and/or hydrogen bromide.

## Claims

### Claim 1

In a process for the production of acetaldehyde and ethanol by reacting methanol with carbon monoxide and hydrogen at a temperature of between 100.degree.-250.degree. C. and under elevated pressure in the presence of a catalyst containing cobalt, an iodine and/or bromine compound and a phosphorus-containing ligand,
the improvement which comprises reacting methanol with carbon monoxide and hydrogen under a pressure of from 200 to 450 bar in the presence of a catalyst containing cobalt, a halogen compound selected from the group consisting of hydrogen iodide and hydrogen bromide, using 0.009 to 0.0005 mole of hydrogen iodide and/or hydrogen bromide per mole of methanol used, and a biphosphine of the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 to R.sub.4 are each alkyl of 1-12 carbon atoms, alkoxy of 1-12 carbon atoms, alkylamine of 1-12 carbon atoms, aryl, aroxyl or arylamine each of 6 carbon atoms unsubstituted or substituted by alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, monocyclic rings of 5 to 12 carbon atoms or bicyclic rings of 10 to 20 carbon atoms, and
n is the integer from 1 to 6.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The improvement in accordance with claim 1, wherein from 0.005 to 0.0008 of hydrogen iodide and/or hydrogen bromide is used per mole of methanol.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The improvement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the pressure is in the range from 230 to 400 bar.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The improvement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the pressure is in the range from 280 to 350 bar.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The improvement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the molar ratio of cobalt to methanol is from 0.005 to 0.0001.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The improvement in accordance with claim 1, wherein the molar ratio of cobalt to methanol is from 0.003 to 0.0005.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The improvement according to claim 1, wherein the molar ratio of phosphorus to methanol is from 0.006 to 0.0001.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The improvement according to claim 1, wherein the molar ratio of phosphorus to methanol is from 0.003 to 0.0005.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The improvement according to claim 1, wherein the reaction time is from 30 to 90 minutes.