1013.    FISCHER, F., AND TROPSCH, H.  [Direct Combination of Carbon Monoxide With Alcohols.]  Ges. Abhandl. Kenntnis Kohle, vol. 6, 1921, pp. 382-390; Chem. Abs., vol. 18, 1924, p. 3170.

       CO combines with MeOH and EtOH under pressure to form small quantities of formic esters.  The reaction is catalyzed by the addition of HCO₂Na on account of the production of free alkali by the interaction of the alcohol and the salt to form the ester.  The ester yields are improved by careful drying of the alcohol and formate.  The best yield (7.73 gm. of ester/100 gm. of MeOH) was obtained by heating 100 cc. of the alcohol with 10 gm. of HCO₂K and CO under 60 atm. at 180° for 3 hr. in a Cu-lined autoclave, and the yield was only slightly decreased by reduction of the proportion of HCO₂K to 2.5 gm.  HCO₂Na also promotes the decomposition of HCO₂Me, so that the addition of CO to alcohols must be regarded as a reversible reaction.