Ester production by hydrogenation of carboxylic acids and anhydrides.

摘要

A carboxylic acid ester is produced at a selectivity of greater than 50% whilst producing the corresponding alcohol at a selectivity less than 10% from a carboxylic acid or anhydride thereof by reacting the acid or anhydride with hydrogen at elevated temperature in the presence as catalyst of a composition comprising a component (i) comprising at least one of Group VIII noble metal and/or a component (ii) comprising at least one of molybdenum, tungsten and rhenium and a component (iii) comprising an oxide of a Group IVb element. The process is particularly applicable to the hydrogenation of acetic acid to ethyl acetate.