PRODUCTION OF ETHYLENE GLYCOL

摘要

PURPOSE:To produce the titled compound in high rate of production, selectivity and yield under relatively moderate condition, by reacting CO with H2 under high temperature and pressure condition in the presence of a Rh-containing catalyst using a specific organic phosphorus compound as a reaction accelerator. CONSTITUTION:The objective compound can be produced by reacting CO with H2 at a molar ratio (CO/H2) of 0.05-20 in the presence of a Rh-containing catalyst such as tetrarhodium dodecacarbonium at 50-350 deg.C under 1-2,000kg/ cm2G pressure for 0.1-20hr preferably in a solvent adding an organic phosphorus compound of formula (R<1> and R<2> are 3-12C alkylene wherein the C atom bonded to P is secondary or tertiary; R<3> is 1-4C alkyl; n is 0 or 1) such as di-tert-butyl(trimethylsilylmethyl)phosphinone, etc., as a reaction accelerator to the reaction system. The molar ratio of the organic phosphorus compound to the Rh atom is 0.1-500.