Hemologation of alkanols
AssigneeUnion Oil Company of California
InventorDonald M. Fenton
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Abstract
This invention provides a process for converting alkanols into higher alkanols, e.g. methanol into ethanol, by contacting a basic solution comprising said alkanol in the absence of added hydrogen, with a catalyst comprising a lanthanum moiety. Preferably said catalyst further comprises a rhodium or a ruthenium moiety in combination with said lanthanum moiety. This invention further provides a novel heterogeneous catalyst system adapted for alkanol homologation, which comprises lanthanum hydroxide and a rhodium or ruthenium moiety, e.g. RhCl.sub.3 or RuCl.sub.3.
Claims22
A process for converting an alcohol reactant into alcohols, having at least one or more carbon atoms than said alcohol reactant, which comprises contacting a solution, having a pH of greater than 7.0 and comprising said alcohol reactant, with carbon monoxide, in the presence of a catalyst comprising lanthanum, and in the absence of added hydrogen.
A process for converting methanol into alkanols having more than one carbon atom which comprises contacting a methanol reactant solution, having a pH of greater than 7.0, with carbon monoxide, in the presence of a catalyst comprising lanthanum, and in the absence of added hydrogen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.