PATENT

3561. ----- [STANDARD OIL CO.]  Synthesis of Octyl Alcohols.  British Patent 663,240, Mar. 28, 1949.  British Abs., B, II, 1952, p. 316: chem.. Abs., vol. 47, 1953, p. 1181.

Octyl alcohols are produced from heptene by interaction with H₂ and CO in the presence of a Co catalyst, which is maintained in constant amount in the carbonylation zone, condensation of the products and recycling of the gaseous phase and at least  part of the liquid phase, treatment of the remaining liquid phase to remove Co as the free metal, and hydrogenation and distillation to obtain octyl alcohol.  Thus, Co naphthenate  is added to the heptene feed to give 0.1-0.3% of Co based on the heptene, the ratio of H₂:CO in the gas feed being 1.0-1.2:1, and the carbonylation zone being maintained at 300°-360° F. and 2,900-3,500 p. s. i.  Heptenes are fed to the zone at a rate of 0.4-0.6 vol. per vol. of reaction space per hr., fresh synthesis gas being fed in the ratio of 2,000-3,000 ft.³ per bbl. of heptene: time of residence in the zone is 1-3 hr., and 4-5 vol. of liquid products are recycled per vol. of fresh feed of heptene.  With careful control, especially of temperature, octanals are obtainable in 80% yield and octyl alcohols in  70-80% yield.