Process for producing propylene glycol monoalkyl ethers from acetaldehyde, an alkanol and syngas using a new catalyst system

摘要

Propylene glycol monoalkyl ethers are prepared in good yield by reacting acetaldehyde and an alkanol (or by reacting an acetal) with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising a cobalt-containing compound and a cocatalyst comprising a member of the group consisting of rhodium-containing compounds, ruthenium-containing compounds and nickel-containing compounds, and heating the resulting mixture at moderate temperatures and pressures for sufficient time to produce the desired glycol monoalkyl ether, and then recovering the same from the reaction mixture.