Promoted Ruthenium Catalyzed Conversion of Syngas to Alcohols

摘要

This invention concerns a promoted catalyst system for making one or more alkanols from synthesis gas. The catalyst system contains a ruthenium compound and a halogen promoter dispersed in a low-melting tetraorganophosphonium salt. The halogen promoter is a compound capable of generating HX (where X=Cl, Br, or I) under reaction conditions. The invention also concerns a process for selectively preparing one or more alkanols from synthesis gas using the promoted catalyst system.