3122.     SCHROEDER, W. C., AND ORCHIN, M.  Oxo Reaction.  Chem. Eng., vol. 58, No. 3, 1951, pp. 135-136.

        Oxo process for production of aldehydes and alcohols from olefins by reaction with CO and H₂ has stimulated considerable interest and process development.  The status of the reaction is at present highly competitive and process developments have not been revealed.  It has been quite firmly established that either dicobalt or octacarbonyl or cobalt hydrocarbonyl is the active catalyst and that these compounds are readily formed from any salt of Co or from the activated metal.  There are some advantages (such as lower reaction temperature) to using preformed dicobalt octacarbonyl as the catalyst.  Basic research on the chemistry of the Oxo process being conducted at the Bureau of Mines has led to some valuable developments:  (1) 1-stage production of alcohols by using fairly large Co concentrations and higher-than-usual temperatures; (2) hydrogenation of aliphatic aldehydes and ketones to alcohols and of aromatic ketones and alcohols by hydrocarbons under Oxo conditions; (3) evidence that the hydrogenation is homogeneous and, therefore, applicable to S-containing compounds; (4) the homologation reaction by which MeOH can be converted to EtOH, benzyl to alcohol to 2-phenyl ethanol, and tertiary butyl alcohol to isoamyl alcohol.  The process has not been in operation long enough to permit evaluation of its impact on the chemical industry.  It is likely that the reaction will receive consideration wherever large quantities of any kind of olefins are available.  Those of interest not only include those in cracked gases, alkylation byproducts, and Fischer-Tropsch oils but other materials, such as the terpenes and unsaturated fats and oils.

        SCHROETER, K.  See abs. 3251.