Claims
- 1. A process of producing an alkane polyol(s) which comprises reacting in a homogeneous liquid phase a mixture of hydrogen and oxides of carbon in the presence of a rhodium carbonyl phosphido cluster compound at a pressure between about 1,000 to about 50,000 pounds per square inch absolute and at a temperature of between about 210.degree. C. and about 320.degree. C., wherein the rhodium carbonyl phosphido cluster compound possesses an infrared spectrum which is characterized by two significant infrared bands between about plus and minus 15 cm.sup.-1 of about 2010 cm.sup.-1 and about 1815 cm.sup.-1.
- 2. The process of claim 1 wherein the anion of the rhodium carbonyl phosphido cluster compound is of the following empirical formula:
- [Rh.sub.9 P(CO).sub.21 ].sup.-2
- 3. The process of claim 1 wherein the rhodium carbonyl phosphido cluster compound is of the following formula:
- Cs.sub.2 [Rh.sub.9 P(CO).sub.21 ]
- 4. The process of claim 1 wherein the rhodium carbonyl phosphido cluster compound is of the following formula
- [C.sub.6 H.sub.5 CH.sub.2 N(C.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.3 ].sub.2 [Rh.sub.9 P(CO).sub.21 ]
- 5. The process of claim 1 wherein the rhodium carbonyl phosphido cluster compound is of the following formula:
- [C.sub.6 H.sub.5 CH.sub.2 N(C.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.3 ].sub.2 [Rh.sub.9 P(CO).sub.21 ] CH.sub.3 C(O)CH.sub.3
- 6. The process of claim 1 wherein the rhodium carbonyl cluster compound is dissolved in a solvent.
- 7. The process of claim 6 wherein the solvent is tetraglyme.
- 8. The process of claim 6 wherein the solvent is a crown ether.
- 9. The process of claim 8 wherein the crown ether is [18]-crown-6.
- 10. The process of claim 6 wherein the solvent is a mixture of tetraglyme and a crown ether.
- 11. The process of claim 10 wherein the crown ether is [18]-crown-6.
- 12. The process of claim 1 wherein the temperature of the reaction is between about 250.degree. C. and 300.degree. C.
- 13. The process of claim 1 wherein the process is conducted under a pressure of between 4,000 and about 20,000 pounds per square inch absolute.
- 14. The process of claim 1 wherein the alkane polyol is ethylene glycol.
- 15. The process of claim 1 wherein the principal products recovered are ethylene glycol and methanol.
- 16. The process of claim 1 wherein the reaction is effected in the presence of a nitrogen containing base compound.
- 17. The process of claim 16 wherein the nitrogen containing base compound is N-methylmorpholine.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part Application of Patent Application Ser. No. 880,080 filed Feb. 2, 1978, now abandoned.
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
880080 |
Feb 1978 |
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