PREPARATION OF GLYCOL ALDEHYDE AND ETHYLENE GLYCOL

摘要

Process for the preparation of glycol aldehyde which comprises reacting formaldehyde with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst system derived from a rhodium-containing catalyst precursor and/or a cobalt-containing catalyst precursor and an acid having a pKa >/= 3.5 and a promoter XR3, X representing P, As or Sb and each R representing a (dis)similar substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl group; at least one R representing an aryl group containing one or more electron-withdrawing groups. Process for the production of ethylene glycol from glycol aldehyde thus prepared.