Sun Refining and Marketing Company

Robert E Ledley

James E Lyons

Harry K Myers, Jr

D Michael Duggan

Kenneth A Scott

Richard E Polleck

Ruthenium cobalt- or cobalt-containing catalysts which have been promoted with phosphonites or phosphinites effectively catalyze the dealkoxyhydroxymethylation of aldehyde acetals to form glycol monoethers. Methylal, for example, may be reacted with syngas, i.e., CO and H.sub.2, in the presence of these phosphonite- or phosphinite-promoted cobalt or ruthenium- cobalt catalysts to form the monomethyl ether of ethylene glycol. In a like manner acetaldehyde may be converted to the corresponding propylene glycol monoether. The process may advantageously be carried out with high yields and selectivities in the presence of a polar or non-polar organic solvent in combination with the catalyst system of this invention. The invention is also directed to the phosphonite- or phosphinite-promoted cobalt and ruthenium-cobalt catalyst systems per se.

Phosphonite-and phosphinite-promoted ruthenium - cobalt catalysts for

Ruthenium-cobalt- or cobalt-containing catalysts which have been promoted with phosphonites or phosphinites effectively catalyze the dealkoxyhydroxymethylation of aldehyde acetals to form glycol monoethers. Methylal, for example, may be reacted with syngas, i.e., CO and H.sub.2, in the presence of these phosphonite- or phosphinite-promoted cobalt or ruthenium- cobalt catalysts to form the monomethyl ether of ethylene glycol. In a like manner acetaldehyde may be converted to the corresponding propylene glycol monoether. The process may advantageously be carried out with high yields and selectivities in the presence of a polar or non-polar organic solvent in combination with the catalyst system of this invention. The invention is also directed to the phosphonite- or phosphonite-promoted cobalt and ruthenium-cobalt catalyst system per se.

Phosphonite-and phosphonite-promoted ruthenium - cobalt catalysts for

The reaction rate for the hydrolysis of carbonyl sulfide in liquid petroleum hydrocarbons over alumina, such as propylene, is greatly increased by maintaining water in the hydrocarbons in an amount of one mole of water per mole of carbonyl sulfide to an upper limit of about ten moles of water per mole of carbonyl sulfide or about 30% of saturation of the hydrocarbons, whichever upper limit provides the lesser amount of water.

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Hockessin, DE, United States of America

Robert E Ledley