3578.     VON WARTENBERG, A., MUCHLINSKI, A., AND RIEDLER, G.  [Investigation of Formaldehyde.]  Ztschr. angew Chem., vol. 37, 1924, pp. 457-459; Chem. Abs., vol. 19, 1925, p. 769.

        Attempts were made to synthesize CH₂O by subjecting a mixture of CO+H₂ to the silent electric discharge in an ozonizer.  The voltage, pressure, temperature, and time of contact were varied over side limits, but only traces of CH₂O were ever obtained; indeed, a mixture of CH₂O+H₂ was decomposed by the electric discharge.  From the Nernst heat theorem, it appears that the equilibrium is favorable for the formation of CH₂O from COCl₂+2 H₂.  The best yield obtained, at 300° with Ni catalyzer, was 3.6%.  The chief reaction was decomposition of the COCl₂ to CO and HCl.  The oxidation of CH₄ with O₂ to give CH₂O was tried with a large number of catalyzers, of which PbCrO₄ proved to be the best; but the highest yield obtained, at 650°, was only 2% based on CH₄.