855. ------. [GRESHAM, W. F.] (E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co.). Preparing Polyhydric Alcohols and Related Products. United States Patent 2,570,792, Oct. 9, 1951: appl. filed Dec. 8, 1949, Serial No. 131,938; 9 claims (Cl. 260-449). Chem. Abs., vol. 4

Patent Abstracts

855. ------. [GRESHAM, W. F.] (E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co.). Preparing Polyhydric Alcohols and Related Products. United States Patent 2,570,792, Oct. 9, 1951: appl. filed Dec. 8, 1949, Serial No. 131,938; 9 claims (Cl. 260-449). Chem. Abs., vol. 46, 1952, p. 5076.

Polyhydric alcohols, such as ethylene glycol are prepared by reacting CO with H₂under a pressure 2,000-5,000 atm. and 150º-400º in the pressure of a Mn-Zn-Cr catalyst. The best ratio of CO:H₂ is 3 : 1-1 : 3. The process may be preformed in the presence of an inert liquid diluent, such as H₂O, which facilitates removal of heat from the reaction mixture and also may prevent formation of hydrolysable products, such as esters.