GB922374A - Production of alcohols - Google Patents

Abstract

Catalysts used for the reaction between olefines, carbon monoxide and water to produce alcohols comprise an iron carbonyl, preferably iron pentacarbonyl, an amine, preferably a tertiary amine such as N-n-butylpyrrolidine, water and an optionally substituted ether, thioether, nitrile, lactam, carboxylic acid amide, a compound containing a sulphoxide group or two or more of such compounds. The additives are preferably present in an amount of 1-20% by weight based on the total weight of the three components forming the catalyst.ALSO:Alcohols having 3-7 carbon atoms are obtained from olefines having 2-6 carbon atoms, carbon monoxide and water at a temperature of 60-130 DEG C. in the presence of a complex catalyst consisting of iron carbonyl, an amine and water and an optionally substituted ether, thioether, nitrile, lactam, carboxylic acid amide, a compound containing a sulphoxide group or two or more of such compounds. The amine is preferably a tertiary one, e.g. N-n-butyl pyrrolidine. Among suitable additives specified are those of formula R1XR2, in which X is oxygen or sulphur and R1 and R2 are aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, araliphatic or aromatic radicals containing 1-12 carbon atoms substituted, for example, by esterified carboxylic groups, etherified hydroxy groups, esterified hydroxy groups, carboxylic groups, hydroxy groups and nitrile groups, and compounds of formula R3COYR4, in which Y is oxygen or a group NR5 in which R5 is hydrogen, an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, araliphatic or aromatic radical both hetero atoms being members of a heterocyclic ring having 5-13 atoms as ring members and R3 and R4 together represent a polymethylene radical with 3-11 carbon atoms which together with -CO-Y- form a heterocyclic ring having 5-13 ring members. Suitable compounds of formula R3COYR4 are, for example, pyrrolidone, caprolactam, caprylic lactam, lauric lactam, N-methylpyrrolidone, and N-butylcaprolactam. Other suitable additives are N-mono- and N-disubstituted carbonamides, e.g. dimethyl and diethyl formamide, N.N-dimethyl acetamide, N.N-diethylbutyramide and benzoic and dimethyl amide. The additives are usually present in an amount of 1-20% by weight based on the total of the three components forming the catalyst and may be added during or after the formation of the catalyst. In the examples propylene is reacted with carbon monoxide and water in the presence of a catalyst comprising iron pentacarbonyl, N-butyl pyrrolidine and various additives as specified above to give a mixture of butanols. Specification 704,136 is referred to.