PATENT

3454. ----- [STANDARD OIL CO.]  Alcohols.  British Patent 672,349, May 21, 1952.  Chem. Abs., vol. 47, 1953, p. 4356.

Yields of alcohols obtained from the reaction olefins, CO, and H₂ with Co stearate are improved if the residue after removal of the alcohols is subjected to repeated hydrogenation.  Thus, an olefin C₇ cut b. 160°-170° F., CO and H₂ in 1.1:1 ratio, and Co naphthenate at 350° F. and 3,300 p.s.i.  give an olefin conversion of 75-80%.  Reduction of the oxygenated compounds thus obtained with 10% MoS₂ on charcoal at 450° F. and 2,900 p. s. i. gave a mixture containing 57.5 wt.-% alcohols b. 340°-370° and 17.4 wt.-% of bottoms.  The alcohols were recovered, 1 l. of the residue was hydrogenated at 350° F. at 2,700 p. s. i.  over Ni-kieselguhr catalyst, and the produce saponidied with 15% NaOH 5 hr. at 400° F.; a saturated ether amounting to about 30 vol. % of the original bottoms and C₁₅-C₁₆ alcohols, also equivalent to about 30% of the bottoms, were recovered.