848. ------. [GRESHAM, W. F.] (E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co.). Catalytic Process for Preparing Alcohols. United States Patent 2,535,060. Dec. 26. 1950: appl. filed June 15. 1949. Serial No. 99,343: 9 claims (Cl. 260-449).

Patent Abstracts

848. ------. [GRESHAM, W. F.] (E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co.). Catalytic Process for Preparing Alcohols. United States Patent 2,535,060. Dec. 26. 1950: appl. filed June 15. 1949. Serial No. 99,343: 9 claims (Cl. 260-449).

Alcohols, and more particularly straight chain primary hydroxyalkanes, are prepared by introducing H₂:CO=1.5:1-3:1, and a hydroxylated solvent into a reactor and heating the mixture with a Ru catalyst and an alkaline reagent. pH preferably 7.8-11.5, pressure 200-1,000 atm., and temperature 150º-300º C. The liquid hydroxyl-containing reaction medium may be H₂O or an alcohol such as a primary hydroxyalkane having 1-10 C atoms per mol. 90%-98% of the product is straight-chain, primary alcohols ranging from small amount of MeOH to alcohols with 2-15 C atoms per mol. 3 United States patents cited.