VERFAHREN ZUR HERSTELLUNG NIEDERER ALKYLESTER VON CARBONSAEUREN

摘要

Lower alkyl esters of carboxylic acids are prepared in good yield from a carboxylic acid and syngas by contacting a mixture of the carboxylic acid, carbon monoxide and hydrogen with a catalyst composition comprising a ruthenium-containing compound, a cobalt-containing compound and a quaternary onium salt or base, and heating the resulting mixture at an elevated temperature and pressure for sufficient time to produce the desired alkyl carboxylic acid ester, and then recovering the same from the reaction mixture. Methanol is an additional and preferred reactant.