Union Carbide Corporation

James N Cawse

Jose Luis Vidal

A process for producing polyhydric alcohols, their ether and ester derivatives, oligomers of such alcohols and monohydric alcohols and their ester derivatives by reacting hydrogen and oxides of carbon in the presence of a rhodium carbonyl complex, an alkali metal cation and a cryptand.

Catalytic process for producing polyhydric alcohols and derivatives

This invention relates to the manufacture of such valuable chemicals as polyhydric alcohols, their ether and ester derivatives, oligomers of such alcohols and monohydric alcohols and their ether and ester derivatives by reacting oxides of carbon and hydrogen in the presence of a quaternary phosphonium cation and a rhodium carbonyl complex.

Catalytic process for polyhydric alcohols and derivatives

This invention relates to the manufacture of such valuable chemicals as polyhydric alcohols, their ether and ester derivatives, oligomers of such alcohols and monohydric alcohols and their ether and ester derivatives by reacting oxides of carbon and hydrogen in the presence of a bis(triorgano phosphine)iminium cation and a rhodium carbonyl complex provided to the reaction as a rhodium carbonyl cluster anion which possesses an infrared spectrum which exhibits three intense wavelength bands between about plus and minus 10 cm.sup.-.sup.1 of about 1868 cm.sup.-.sup.1, about 1838 cm.sup.-.sup.1, and about 1785 cm.sup.-.sup.1 at a pressure of at least about 500 pounds per square inch absolute.

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Charleston, WV, United States of America

James N Cawse