1454. HOFMANN, K. A., AND SCHIBSTED, H. [I. Reducibility of Formic Acid. II. Preparation of Formaldehyde and Methyl Alcohol From Formates.] Ber. deut. chem. Gesell., vol. 51, 1918, pp. 1389-1398, 1398-1418; Chem. Abs., vol. 13, 1919, pp. 720-723.

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Literature Abstracts

1454. HOFMANN, K. A., AND SCHIBSTED, H. [I. Reducibility of Formic Acid. II. Preparation of Formaldehyde and Methyl Alcohol From Formates.] Ber. Deut. Chem. Gesell., vol. 51, 1918, pp. 1389-1398, 1398-1418; Chem. Abs., vol. 13, 1919, pp. 720-723.

It was found that the initial decomposition temperature of metallic formates increases regularly with an increase in the basic properties of the metal; for example, formate of Cu, 170°; of Pb, 195°; of Ni, 210K; of Ca, 335°; etc. At different temperatures above the initial decomposition temperature, a given formate may decompose in any of several ways; the formate of Li at temperatures 400°-500° may yield MeOH, acetone, HCOOH, CO₂ and H₂O; of Mg above 340° MeOH, acetone, and HCHO; of Cu and Ni, MeOH; of Zn, HCHO and MeOH; of Sn, HCHO but no MeOH; of Al, neither HCHO nor MeOH. These facts may be applied to the transformation of HCOOH in the vapor phase in the presence of chemically unchanged catalysts if the catalyst and temperature are so chosen as to allow for the possibility of formate formation. Under these circumstances cyclic processes involving the synthesis and decomposition of formates may be adapted to the preparation of MeOH and HCHO. The best catalysts for the preparation of aldehyde were found to be Zno or ThO₂ deposited on asbestos.