Process for producing aldehydes

Abstract

A process for selectively producing aldehydes, particularly acetaldehyde, which comprises introducing into a reaction zone (1) methanol, (2) carbon monoxide, (3) hydrogen, (4) cobalt, (5) iodine and (6) a specific phosphorus-containing ligand and then subjecting the contents of said reaction zone to an elevated temperature and an elevated pressure for a time sufficient to convert methanol to said aldehydes.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is directed to a process for selectively producing aldehydes, particularly acetaldehyde, which comprises introducing into a reaction zone (1) methanol, (2) carbon monoxide, (3) hydrogen, (4) cobalt, (5) iodine, and (6) a specific phosphorus-containing ligand and then subjecting the contents of said reaction zone to an elevated temperature and an elevated pressure for a time sufficient to convert methanol to said aldehydes.

2. Description of the Invention

In European Patent Application No. 79302053.8, filed in the names of B. R. Gane and D. G. Stewart and published on April 30, 1980, it is disclosed that when methanol is reacted with synthesis gas in the presence of a catalyst comprising (a) cobalt, (b) an iodide or a bromide and (c) a polydentate ligand, wherein the donor atoms are exclusively phosphorus, the product obtained will contain a substantial proportion of ethanol. When the polydentate ligand used is one wherein at least one of the donor atoms is phosphorus and another is arsenic, it is alleged by Gane et al that the product will contain a mixture of ethanol and acetaldehyde.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

We have found that if we introduce into a reaction zone (1) methanol, (2) carbon monoxide, (3) hydrogen, (4) cobalt, (5) iodine, and (6) a specific phosphorus-containing ligand, while controlling the proportion of the reaction components and the reaction parameters, we can obtain a reaction product predominating in aldehydes, including compounds convertible thereto, particularly acetaldehyde. By "compounds convertible thereto" we mean to include acetals, such as dimethyl acetal. In general the reaction product will contain at least about 30 weight percent, especially from about 35 to about 85 weight percent, of aldehydes and compounds convertible thereto. The acetaldehyde content of the reaction product will be at least about 25 weight percent, especially about 27 to about 75 weight percent. At the same time, the alcohol content of the reaction product, including compounds convertible thereto, will be very small. By "compounds convertible thereto", in the latter instance, we mean to include acetates, such as ethyl acetate. In general the reaction product will contain less than about 22 weight percent of alcohols and compounds convertible thereto, but more often from about two to about ten weight percent of alcohols and compounds convertible thereto. As to the ethanol content of the reaction product it will be less than about 18 weight percent, but more often in the range of about 0 to about seven weight percent. The compounds referred to above that can be converted to aldehydes or alcohols can be converted thereto by any known or suitable process, for example, by hydrolysis, that is, contacting a precursor thereof with water, with or without an acid (sulfuric) or a basic (sodium hydroxide) catalyst.

The phosphorus-containing ligand used herein can be defined by the following formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.5 are either alike or different members selected from the group consisting of alkyl radicals having from one to 24 carbon atoms, preferably from two to 10 carbon atoms; aryl radicals having from six to 20 carbon atoms, preferably from six to 10 carbon atoms; alkenyl radicals having from two to 30 carbon atoms, preferably from two to 20 carbon atoms; cycloalkyl radicals having from three to 40 carbon atoms, preferably from three to 30 carbon atoms; aralkyl and alkaryl radicals having from six to 40 carbon atoms, preferably from six to 30 carbon atoms, and dihydrocarbyl phosphino alkyl radicals, such as ##STR2## wherein n' is 1, 2 or 3, preferably 1 or 2, and R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 are alkyl or aryl, as defined above, preferably aryl or alkyl; R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are either alike or different members selected from the group consisting of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.5, defined above, and hydrogen, preferably hydrogen or alkyl; E can be phosphorus or arsenic, preferably phosphorus; n is an integer ranging from 1 to 3, preferably 2 to 3, but most preferably 2; and x can be 1, 2 or 3. Included among the phosphorus-containing ligands that can be employed herein, some of which are believed to be novel, are those defined below in Table I, referring to the structural formula hereinabove defined:

TABLE I__________________________________________________________________________R.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3 R.sub.4 R.sub.5 E n x__________________________________________________________________________1. Phenyl Phenyl Hydrogen Hydrogen Phenyl P 1 12. Ethyl Ethyl Hydrogen Hydrogen Phenyl P 1 13. Phenyl Phenyl Hydrogen Hydrogen Phenyl P 2 14. Ethyl Ethyl Hydrogen Hydrogen Phenyl P 2 15. Ethyl Ethyl Hydrogen Hydrogen Ethyl P 2 16. Phenyl Phenyl Hydrogen Hydrogen Phenyl As 1 17. Phenyl Phenyl Hydrogen Hydrogen Ethyl As 1 18. Phenyl Phenyl Hydrogen Hydrogen Phenyl As 2 19. Ethyl Ethyl Hydrogen Hydrogen Ethyl As 2 110. Phenyl Phenyl Hydrogen Hydrogen Phenyl P 3 1 Ethyl Ethyl Hydrogen Hydrogen Ethyl P 3 1 Phenyl Phenyl Hydrogen Hydrogen Phenyl As 3 1 Ethyl Ethyl Hydrogen Hydrogen Phenyl As 3 1 Cyclohexane Cyclohexane Hydrogen Hydrogen Cyclohexane P 1 1 Cyclohexane Cyclohexane Hydrogen Hydrogen Cyclohexane P 2 1 Cyclohexane Cyclohexane Hydrogen Hydrogen Cyclohexane P 3 1 P--tolyl P--tolyl Hydrogen Hydrogen P--tolyl P 2 1 P--tolyl P--tolyl Hydrogen Hydrogen P--tolyl As 3 1 Phenyl Phenyl Methyl Hydrogen Phenyl P 2 120. Phenyl Phenyl Methyl Methyl Phenyl P 2 1 Ethyl Ethyl Methyl Methyl Ethyl P 2 1 Phenyl Phenyl Hydrogen Hydrogen Phenyl P 2 2 Ethyl Ethyl Hydrogen Hydrogen Ethyl P 2 2 Ethyl Ethyl Methyl Hydrogen Ethyl P 2 2 Phenyl Phenyl Hydrogen Hydrogen -- P 2 3 Ethyl Ethyl Hydrogen Hydrogen -- P 2 3 Phenyl Phenyl Methyl Hydrogen -- P 2 3 Phenyl Phenyl Hydrogen Hydrogen Phenyl As 2 2 Phenyl Phenyl Hydrogen Hydrogen -- As 2 330. Phenyl Phenyl (CH.sub.3).sub.2 PCH.sub.2 -- Methyl Phenyl P 2 1 Ethyl Ethyl (CH.sub.3).sub.2 PCH.sub.2 -- Methyl Ethyl P 2 1 Phenyl Phenyl Methyl (C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.2 PCH.sub.2 -- Phenyl P 3 1 R.sub.1 = R'.sub.1 = Phenyl Hydrogen Hydrogen Phenyl P 2 2 Phenyl R'.sub.2 = (C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.2 PCH.sub.2 CH.sub. 2--__________________________________________________________________________

Any source of iodine which is capable of dissociating, that is, ionizing to form free iodide ions in the reaction medium can be used in the present invention. Illustrative examples of iodine compounds especially suitable for use herein include iodine, potassium iodide, calcium iodide, sodium iodide, lithium iodide, aluminum iodide, bismuth iodide, hydrogen iodide, methyl iodide, ethyl iodide, etc., and mixtures thereof.

The cobalt entity suitable for use herein can be defined as being a cobalt carbonyl, a hydrido cobalt carbonyl or a cobalt-containing compound convertible to a cobalt carbonyl or a hydrido cobalt carbonyl. By "cobalt carbonyl" we intend to define a compound containing only cobalt and carbon monoxide, such as Co.sub.2 (CO).sub.8 or Co.sub.4 (CO).sub.12. By "hydrido cobalt carbonyl" we intend to define a compound containing only cobalt, carbon monoxide and hydrogen, such as HCo(CO).sub.4. By "cobalt-containing material convertible to a cobalt carbonyl or a hydrido cobalt carbonyl" we intend to define any material which when mixed with hexane and subjected to 4000 pounds per square inch gauge (27.6 MPa) in an atmosphere containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide in a molar ratio of 1:1 at 150.degree. to 200.degree. C. for a period of three hours will result in the formation of a cobalt carbonyl, a hydrido cobalt carbonyl or mixtures thereof. Specific examples of a cobalt-containing material so convertible to a cobalt carbonyl or a hydrido cobalt carbonyl include cobalt(II) sulfate, cobalt oxide (Co.sub.3 O.sub.4), cobalt(II)tetrafluoroborate, cobalt(II)acetate, cobalt(II)oxalate, cobalt(II)propionate, cobalt(II)octoate, cobalt(II)butyrate, cobalt(II)benzoate, cobalt(II)valerate, cobalt(II)formate, cobalt(II)cyclohexanebutyrate, cobalt(II)2-ethyl-hexaoate, cobalt(II)gluconate, cobalt(II)lactate, cobalt(II)naphthenate, cobalt(II)oleate, cobalt(II)citrate, cobalt(II)acetylacetonate, etc.

The relative amounts of carbon monoxide and hydrogen employed can be varied over a wide range. However, in general, the molar ratio of carbon monoxide to hydrogen is from about 2:1 to about 1:2, preferably about 1.5:1 to about 1:1.5, but most preferably about 1.25:1 to about 1:1.25. Compounds or reaction mixtures which give rise to the formation of carbon monoxide and hydrogen under the reaction conditions defined herein can be used instead of mixtures comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen which are used in the preferred embodiments of this invention.

In order to obtain a product herein that predominates in aldehydes, particularly acetaldehyde, the amount of cobalt employed relative to the ligand and to iodine is critical. Thus, the molar ratio of cobalt, based on the element cobalt, to the ligand must be in the range of about 1:2 to about 7:1, preferably about 1:1.5 to about 4:1. The molar ratio of cobalt, based on the element cobalt, to iodine, based on the element iodine, must be in the range of about 1:1.15 to 1:15, preferably about 1:1.25 to about 1:5. Based on the methanol introduced into the system, the weight percent of combined cobalt and iodine, in their elemental form, can range from about 0.01 to about 10 percent, preferably from about 0.1 to about five percent.

The process herein can be carried out either in a batch operation or by passing the reactants continuously through a reaction zone. In each case the reactor is provided with agitation means and the pressure is maintained therein by the addition of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, or compounds producing hydrogen and carbon monoxide, as required. In order to facilitate the introduction of the phosphorus-containing ligand and the cobalt and iodine entities into the reaction zone and/or to facilitate recovery of the components of the reaction herein, they can be dissolved in an inert solvent, such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, acetone, sulfolanes, such as tetramethylene sulfone, lactones, such as .gamma.-butyrolactone and .epsilon.-caprolactone, etc.

In the reaction zone the contents thereof are maintained at an elevated temperature and at an elevated critical pressure for a time sufficient to convert methanol to the desired aldehydes. The total pressure (based on hydrogen, carbon monoxide and any produced gases) must be at least about 2200 pounds per square inch gauge (15.02 MPa) but need not be in excess of about 10,000 pounds per square inch gauge (68.30 MPa). Especially desirable are pressures in the range of about 2500 pounds per square inch gauge (17.07 MPa) to about 7500 pounds per square inch gauge (51.19 MPa). Temperatures which are suitable for use herein are those temperatures which initiate a reaction between the reactants herein to selectively produce aldehydes, generally from about 150.degree. to about 250.degree. C., preferably from about 170.degree. to about 220.degree. C. The reaction is conducted for a time period sufficient to convert methanol to aldehydes, normally from about five minutes to about five hours, preferably from about ten minutes to about 2.5 hours.

Recovery of the desired aldehydes, for example acetaldehyde, from the reaction product can be effected in any convenient or conventional manner, for example, by distillation, at ambient pressure and about 21.degree. C. The components will distill off in the following sequence for the desired recovery: acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, methyl acetate, methanol, butyraldehyde, ethylacetate, ethanol, etc.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A series of 27 runs was carried out as follows. Into a 300 cc. stainless steel autoclave, equipped with agitation means, were charged 100 milliliters of methanol, 10 millimols of cobaltous acetylacetonate, and selected amounts of iodine and a phosphorus-containing ligand. In each of Runs Nos. I to XIX and XXIII to XXVII 10 millimols of iodine were used. In Runs Nos. XX, XXI and XXII, 6.25, 5.0 and 2.5 millimols of iodine, respectively, were used. In each of Runs Nos. I to X, XIII, XV to XVII and XX to XXVII 5 millimols of ligand were used. In each of Runs Nos. XI and XVIII 2.5 millimols of ligand were used. In Runs Nos. XII and XIV 3.7 millimols of ligand were used and in Run XIX 10 millimols of ligand were used. The reactor was next purged twice with nitrogen gas and then pressurized with carbon monoxide and hydrogen to a pressure of about half the desired reaction pressure. The system was then heated to a temperature of 200.degree. C. and the pressure was adjusted to the reaction pressure, while maintaining selected molar ratios of carbon monoxide to hydrogen in the reaction zone, and such pressure was maintained throughout the reaction period. At the end of the reaction period the reactor contents were cooled by an internal cooling coil to about -75.degree. C. The reactor was vented through a dry gas meter and a gas sample was taken for a mass spectral analysis and the liquid product was then analyzed by gas chromatography. The data obtained are set forth below in Tables II and III.

TABLE II__________________________________________________________________________ Per- Re- cent.sup.(b) Co:Ligand Co:I Pressure action MeOHRun Phosphorus-Containing Ligand.sup.(a) Molar Molar PSIG Time, Con-No. R.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3 R.sub.4 R.sub.5 E x n Ratio Ratio CO:H.sub.2 (MPa) Hours verted__________________________________________________________________________I Phenyl Hydrogen Phenyl P 1 1 2:1 1:2 1:1 4000(27.3) 1.0 66II Phenyl Hydrogen Phenyl P 1 2 2:1 1:2 1:1 4000(27.3) 1.0 84III Phenyl Hydrogen Phenyl P 1 2 2:1 1:2 1:2 4000(27.3) 1.0 75IV Phenyl Hydrogen Phenyl P 1 2 2:1 1:2 1:1 4000(27.3) 1.5 91V Phenyl Hydrogen Phenyl P 1 2 2:1 1:2 1:1 2000(13.65) 2.5 59VI Phenyl Hydrogen Phenyl P 1 3 2:1 1:2 1:1 4000(27.3) 1.0 73.2VII Phenyl Hydrogen Phenyl P 1 4 2:1 1:2 1:1 4000(27.3) 1.0 67.8VIII Phenyl Hydrogen Phenyl P 1 5 2:1 1:2 1:1 4000(27.3) 1.5 68.0IX Phenyl Hydrogen Phenyl P 1 6 2:1 1:2 1:1 4000(27.3) 1.5 71.0X Phenyl Hydrogen Phenyl P 2 2 2:1 1:2 1:1 4000(27.3) 2.0 94.0XI Phenyl Hydrogen Phenyl P 3 2 4:1 1:2 1:1 4000(27.3) 1.0 87.0XII Phenyl Hydrogen Phenyl P 3 2 2.7:1 1:2 1:1 4000(27.3) 1.0 92.0XIII Phenyl Hydrogen Phenyl P 3 2 2:1 1:2 1:1 4000(27.3) 1.0 96.0XIV Phenyl Hydrogen Phenyl P 3 2 2.7:1 1:2 1:1.5 4000(27.3) 1.0 82.6XV P--Tolyl Hydrogen P--Tolyl P 1 2 2:1 1:2 1:1 4000(27.3) 1.0 70.0XVI Ethyl Hydrogen Ethyl P 1 2 2:1 1:2 1:1 4000(27.3) 1.0 91.6XVII Phenyl Hydrogen Phenyl P 1 2 2:1 1:2 1:1 3000(20.48) 2.0 83.0XVIII Phenyl Hydrogen Phenyl P 1 2 4:1 1:2 1:1 4000(27.3) 1.0 79.0XIX Phenyl Hydrogen Phenyl P 1 2 1:1 1:2 1:1 4000(27.3) 1.0 86.0XX Phenyl Hydrogen Phenyl P 1 2 2:1 1:1.25 1:1 4000(27.3) 1.0 80.0XXI Phenyl Hydrogen Phenyl P 1 2 2:1 1:1 1:1 4000(27.3) 1.0 78.0XXII Phenyl Hydrogen Phenyl P 1 2 2:1 2:1 1:1 4000(27.3) 1.0 66.0XXIII Phenyl R.sub.3 .noteq. R'.sub.3 ;R.sub.4 = R'.sub.4 Phenyl P 1 2 2:1 1:1 1:1 4000(27.3) 1.0 94.8 R.sub.3 = Methyl R'.sub.3 =Hydrogen = R.sub.4 = R'.sub.4XXIV Phenyl R.sub.3 = R'.sub.3 = Phenyl P 1 2 2:1 1:2 1:1 4000(27.3) 1.0 89.2 Methyl R.sub.4 = R'.sub.4 = HydrogenXXV Phenyl Hydrogen Phenyl As 1 2 2:1 1:2 1:1 4000(27.3) 1.0 27.0XXVI Phenyl Hydrogen Phenyl As 1 2 2:1 1:2 1:2 4000(27.3) 1.0 61.0XXVII R.sub.1 = R'.sub.1 = Hydrogen Phenyl P 2 n 2:1 1:2 1:2 4000(27.3) 1.0 86.5 R.sub.2 = Phenyl R'.sub.2 = (C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.2 PCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2__________________________________________________________________________ ##STR3## .sup.(b) Methanol, CH.sub.3 OH TABLE III__________________________________________________________________________RunNo. Me.sub.2 O.sup.(c) HAc.sup.(d) MeF.sup.(e) EtOH.sup.(f) Et(OMe).sub.2.sup.(g) EtCHO.sup.(h) MeOAc.sup.(i) PrCHO.sup.(j)__________________________________________________________________________I 7.4 30.4 0.1 0.5 1.1 1.2 28.7 7.8II 4.6 49.7 1.5 1.1 1.2 0.6 18.4 13.1III 9.2 43.1 2.1 14.0 4.5 3.1 8.4 11.8IV 3.7 40.0 0.6 5.1 1.5 0.3 18.6 21.2V 49.7 9.1 0.6 1.0 1.4 1.6 21.1 4.3VI 7.3 30.6 0.2 0.8 0 4.0 25.7 7.6VII 10.5 23.6 0.8 2.0 9.1 1.8 24.2 6.4VIII 31.0 23.7 0.7 2.2 1.1 0.2 10.3 12.4IX 30.1 16.0 0.4 0.8 1.9 1.7 16.4 5.8X 4.2 35.9 0.2 2.8 0 1.1 13.9 17.4XI 8.6 45.0 0 0.9 0 1.8 21.0 13.9XII 9.8 51.3 0 0.9 0 0.8 17.4 13.1XIII 7.8 53.7 0 0.4 0 1.9 14.0 10.5XIV 12.7 53.7 0 0.8 0 0.6 11.5 10.7XV 9.0 29.4 0.3 1.2 1.5 1.0 25.6 7.3XVI 5.4 45.3 0.04 0 0.4 1.7 20.0 15.1XVII 11.1 36.4 0.6 1.2 3.0 0.5 20.8 17.4XVIII 2.1 31.7 1.1 8.8 5.2 0.6 27.6 11.5XIX 1.5 43.9 1.1 17.6 0.3 1.4 18.2 8.3XX 2.6 33.6 0.6 13.7 1.1 1.6 24.6 6.3XXI 2.2 20.4 0.9 28.9 2.2 0.5 21.1 8.6XXII 2.3 22.2 1.2 36.9 4.5 2.1 22.1 1.5XXIII 1.0 42.8 0.2 1.4 0.9 1.6 21.5 18.3XXIV 2.4 43.5 0.2 3.5 0.8 0.8 23.1 18.3XXV 4.9 37.0 0.1 1.0 1.9 5.6 28.8 7.8XXVI 28.1 27.8 4.1 2.0 2.0 6.4 11.8 5.8XXVII 7.8 50.7 0 0 0.5 1.2 23.6 10.7__________________________________________________________________________ Total Total Weight Weight Run Percent Percent No. EtOAc.sup.(k) HOAc.sup.(l) Others.sup.(m) Aldehydes.sup.(n) Alcohols.sup.(o)__________________________________________________________________________ I 1.8 0 21.0 57.3 6.5 II 0 2.4 7.3 71.4 2.6 III 1.1 0 2.6 64.6 15.7 IV 4.3 0.4 4.2 66.6 10.1 V 0 0 10.8 23.8 3.2 VI 0.8 0 22.9 60.5 6.2 VII 1.3 0 20.1 57.0 7.4 VIII 0 0 18.3 53.5 6.1 IX 0 0 26.9 47.0 6.1 X 4.8 0 19.7 72.8 8.9 XI 1.5 0 7.3 66.6 2.3 XII 1.7 0 4.9 69.2 3.6 XIII 3.1 0 8.5 72.1 4.6 XIV 1.3 0 8.6 70.3 3.4 XV 3.0 0 21.7 56.5 8.6 XVI 6.3 0 5.6 67.0 7.5 XVII 2.6 0 6.5 59.5 8.1 XVIII 6.4 1.1 3.9 52.2 15.9 XIX 7.0 0.3 0.2 54.3 24.8 XX 9.1 3.0 3.7 45.5 19.2 XXI 10.1 2.0 3.0 34.2 39.7 XXII 5.1 1.0 0.9 31.1 42.2 XXIII 7.6 0 4.0 67.2 9.3 XXIV 6.3 0 0 66.1 8.1 XXV 0 0 12.3 62.2 4.0 XXVI 0 0 11.8 51.3 6.2 XXVII 0 0 5.5 67.5 1.1__________________________________________________________________________ .sup.(c) Dimethyl ether CH.sub.3 OCH.sub.3 .sup.(d) Acetaldehyde CH.sub.3 CHO .sup.(e) Methyl formate HCOOCH.sub.3 .sup.(f) Ethanol C.sub.2 H.sub.5 OH .sup.(g) Dimethyl acetal CH.sub.3 CH(OCH.sub.3).sub.2 .sup.(h) Propanol C.sub.2 H.sub.5 CHO .sup.(i) Methyl acetate CH.sub.3 COOCH.sub.3 .sup.(j) Butanal C.sub.3 H.sub.7 CHO .sup.(k) Ethyl acetate CH.sub.3 COOC.sub.2 H.sub.5 .sup.(l) Acetic acid CH.sub.3 COOH .sup.(m) Mixtures of 1,1dimethoxy ethane, 1,1dimethoxy butane, 1,1diethox ethane, diethylether, crotonaldehyde and other aldehyde condensation products .sup.(n) Aldehydes + materials convertible to aldehydes, for example, by hydrolysis .sup.(o) Alcohols + materials convertible to alcohols, for example, by hydrolysis

That the operation herein must be carried out under the critical criteria of selected phosphorus-containing compounds, critical ratios of cobalt to iodide and critical operating pressures is apparent from each of Runs Nos. V, VII to IX, XXI and XXII, wherein each was carried outside the critical parameters defined herein and reaction products were obtained that failed to contain the desired amounts of aldehydes, including the desired amounts of acetaldehyde.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention, as hereinabove set forth, can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A process for selectively producing aldehydes which comprises introducing into a reaction zone (1) methanol, (2) carbon monoxide, (3) hydrogen, (4) cobalt, (5) iodine, and (6) a phosphorus-containing ligand defined by the following formula: ##STR4## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.5 are either alike or different members selected from the group consisting of alkyl radicals having from one to 24 carbon atoms, aryl radicals having from six to 20 carbon atoms, alkenyl radicals having from two to 30 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl radicals having from three to 40 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl radicals having from three to 40 carbon atoms, aralkyl and alkaryl radicals having from six to 40 carbon atoms and dihydrocarbyl phosphino alkyl radicals, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are either alike or different members selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl radicals having from one to 24 carbon atoms, aryl radicals having from six to 20 carbon atoms, alkenyl radicals having from two to 30 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl radicals having from three to 40 carbon atoms, aralkyl and alkaryl radicals having from six to 40 carbon atoms, and dihydrocarbyl phosphino alkyl radicals, E is phosphorus, n is an integer ranging from 1 to 3, and x can be 1 to 3, the molar ratio of carbon monoxide to hydrogen being in the range of about 2:1 to about 1:2, the molar ratio of cobalt to said ligand being in the range of about 1:2 to about 7:1, the molar ratio of cobalt to iodine being in the range of about 1:1.15 to about 1:15, and the weight percent of combined cobalt and iodine, based on the methanol, being in the range of about 0.01 to about ten percent, and then subjecting said contents to an elevated temperature of about 150.degree. to about 250.degree. C. and an elevated pressure of at least about 2200 pounds per square inch for about five minutes to about five hours, sufficient to convert methanol to a product predominating in aldehydes.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein R1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.5 are either alike or different members selected from the group consisting of alkyl radicals having from two to ten carbon atoms, aryl radicals having from six to ten carbon atoms, alkenyl radicals having from two to 20 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl radicals having from three to 30 carbon atoms, aralkyl and alkaryl radicals having from six to 30 carbon atoms, and dihydrocarbyl phosphino alkyl radicals, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are either alike or different members selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl radicals having from two to ten carbon atoms, aryl radicals having from six to ten carbon atoms, alkenyl radicals having from two to 20 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl radicals having from three to 30 carbon atoms, aralkyl and alkaryl radicals having from six to 30 carbon atoms, and dihydrocarbyl phosphino alkyl radicals, E is phosphorus, n is an integer ranging from 2 to 3, x is 1, the molar ratio of carbon monoxide to hydrogen being in the range of about 1.5:1 to about 1:1.5, the molar ratio of cobalt to said ligand being in the range of about 1:1.5 to about 4:1, the molar ratio of cobalt to iodine being in the range of about 1:1.25 to about 1:5, and the weight percent of combined cobalt and iodine, based on the methanol, being in the range of about 0.1 to about five percent, and then subjecting said contents to an elevated temperature of about 170.degree. C. to about 220.degree. C. and an elevated pressure of from about 2500 to about 7500 pounds per square inch gauge for about ten minutes to about 2.5 hours, sufficient to convert methanol to a product predominating in aldehydes.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein n is 2 and the molar ratio of carbon monoxide to hydrogen is in the range of about 1.25:1 to about 1:1.25.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.5 can be aryl or alkyl radicals.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.5 are aryl radicals.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.5 are alkyl radicals.

7. The process of claim 2 wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.5 can be aryl or alkyl radicals.

8. The process of claim 2 wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.5 are aryl radicals.

9. The process of claim 2 wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.5 are alkyl radicals.

10. The process of claim 1 wherein R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 can be hydrogen or aryl or alkyl radicals.

11. The process of claim 1 wherein R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are hydrogen.

12. The process of claim 1 wherein R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are aryl radicals.

13. The process of claim 1 wherein R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are alkyl radicals.

14. The process of claim 2 wherein R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 can be hydrogen or aryl or alkyl radicals.

15. The process of claim 2 wherein R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are hydrogen.

16. The process of claim 2 wherein R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are aryl radicals.

17. The process of claim 2 wherein R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are alkyl radicals.

18. The process of claim 1 wherein R1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.5 are phenyl radicals, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are hydrogen, x is 1, n is 1, the molar ratio of cobalt to ligand is about 2:1 and the molar ratio of cobalt to iodide is about 1:2.

19. The process of claim 18 wherein n is 2.

20. The process of claim 18 wherein n is 3.

21. The process of claim 18 wherein x is 2 and n is 2.

22. The process of claim 18 wherein x is 3 and n is 2.

23. The process of claim 19 wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.5 are p-tolyl.

24. The process of claim 19 wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.5 are ethyl.