Cobalt synthesis

An example of such recychng in a parallel reaction system is in the Oxo process for the production of C4 alcohols. Propylene and synthesis gas (a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen) are first reacted to ra- and isobutyraldehydes using a cobalt-based catalyst. Two parallel reactions occur ... 

Sun S and Murray C B 1999 Synthesis of monodisperse cobalt nanocrystais and their assembly into magnetic superlattices J. Appl. Phys. 85 4325... 

A similar synthesis starts from commercially available 1,5-hexadiyne and 2-methyl-cyclopent-2-enone. The benzocyclobutene is obtained from a bis-acetylene in a cobalt-catalyzed reaction. It rearranges regio- and stereoselectively to a 3-deoxy steroid derivative. The overall yield from the cyclopentenone was 40% (R.L. Funk, 1977). 

A key intermediate, 163, which possesses all but one chiral center of (+ )-brefeldin, has been prepared by the enantiocontrolled cycloaddition of the chiral fi,/3-unsaturated ester 162 to 154[107], Synthesis of phyllocladane skeleton 165 has been carried out by the Pd-catalyzed cycloaddition of the unsaturated diester 164 and cobalt-catalyzed cycloaddition of alkynes as key reactions[108]. Intramolecular cycloaddition to the vinylsulfone in 166 proceeds smoothly to give a mixture of the trans and cis isomers in a ratio of 2.4 1[109], Diastereocontrolled cycloaddition of the hindered vinylsulfone 167 affords a single stereoisomeric adduct, 168, which is used for the synthesis of the spirocarbocyclic ring of ginkgolide[l 10],... 

The 3.8-nonadienoate 91, obtained by dimerization-carbonylation, has been converted into several natural products. The synthesis of brevicomin is described in Chapter 3, Section 2.3. Another royal jelly acid [2-decenedioic acid (149)] was prepared by cobalt carbonyl-catalyzed carbonylation of the terminal double bond, followed by isomerization of the double bond to the conjugated position to afford 149[122], Hexadecane-2,15-dione (150) can be prepared by Pd-catalyzed oxidation of the terminal double bond, hydrogenation of the internal double bond, and coupling by Kolbe electrolysis. Aldol condensation mediated by an organoaluminum reagent gave the unsaturated cyclic ketone 151 in 65% yield. Finally, the reduction of 151 afforded muscone (152)[123]. n-Octanol is produced commercially as described beforc[32]. 

Early catalysts for acrolein synthesis were based on cuprous oxide and other heavy metal oxides deposited on inert siHca or alumina supports (39). Later, catalysts more selective for the oxidation of propylene to acrolein and acrolein to acryHc acid were prepared from bismuth, cobalt, kon, nickel, tin salts, and molybdic, molybdic phosphoric, and molybdic siHcic acids. Preferred second-stage catalysts generally are complex oxides containing molybdenum and vanadium. Other components, such as tungsten, copper, tellurium, and arsenic oxides, have been incorporated to increase low temperature activity and productivity (39,45,46). 

The alkalized zinc oxide—chromia process developed by SEHT was tested on a commercial scale between 1982 and 1987 in a renovated high pressure methanol synthesis plant in Italy. This plant produced 15,000 t/yr of methanol containing approximately 30% higher alcohols. A demonstration plant for the lEP copper—cobalt oxide process was built in China with a capacity of 670 t/yr, but other higher alcohol synthesis processes have been tested only at bench or pilot-plant scale (23). 

Often the aldehyde is hydrogenated to the corresponding alcohol. In general, addition of carbon monoxide to a substrate is referred to as carbonylation, but when the substrate is an olefin it is also known as hydroformylation. The eady work on the 0x0 synthesis was done with cobalt hydrocarbonyl complexes, but in 1976 a low pressure rhodium-cataly2ed process was commerciali2ed that gave greater selectivity to linear aldehydes and fewer coproducts. 

The mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen is enriched with hydrogen from the water gas catalytic (Bosch) process, ie, water gas shift reaction, and passed over a cobalt—thoria catalyst to form straight-chain, ie, linear, paraffins, olefins, and alcohols in what is known as the Fisher-Tropsch synthesis. 

Goal Upgrading via Fischer-Tropsch. The synthesis of methane by the catalytic reduction of carbon monoxide and hydrogen over nickel and cobalt catalysts at atmospheric pressure was reported in 1902 (11). 

During World War II, nine commercial plants were operated in Germany, five using the normal pressure synthesis, two the medium pressure process, and two having converters of both types. The largest plants had capacities of ca 400 mr / d (2500 bbl/d) of Hquid products. Cobalt catalysts were used exclusively. 

The second reaction is called the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis of hydrocarbons. Depending on the conditions and catalysts, a wide range of hydrocarbons from very light materials up to heavy waxes can be produced. Catalysts for the Fischer-Tropsch reaction iaclude iron, cobalt, nickel, and mthenium. Reaction temperatures range from about 150 to 350°C reaction pressures range from 0.1 to tens of MPa (1 to several hundred atm) (77). The Fischer-Tropsch process was developed iadustriaHy under the designation of the Synthol process by the M. W. Kellogg Co. from 1940 to 1960 (83). 

Natural gas contains both organic and inorganic sulfur compounds that must be removed to protect both the reforming and downstream methanol synthesis catalysts. Hydrodesulfurization across a cobalt or nickel molybdenum—zinc oxide fixed-bed sequence is the basis for an effective purification system. For high levels of sulfur, bulk removal in a Hquid absorption—stripping system followed by fixed-bed residual clean-up is more practical (see Sulfur REMOVAL AND RECOVERY). Chlorides and mercury may also be found in natural gas, particularly from offshore reservoirs. These poisons can be removed by activated alumina or carbon beds. 

Introduction of the cobalt atom into the corrin ring is preceeded by conversion of hydrogenobyrinic acid to the diamide (34). The resultant cobalt(II) complex (35) is reduced to the cobalt(I) complex (36) prior to adenosylation to adenosylcobyrinic acid i7,i -diamide (37). Four of the six remaining carboxyhc acids are converted to primary amides (adenosylcobyric acid) (38) and the other amidated with (R)-l-amino-2-propanol to provide adenosylcobinamide (39). Completion of the nucleotide loop involves conversion to the monophosphate followed by reaction with guanosyl triphosphate to give diphosphate (40). Reaction with a-ribazole 5 -phosphate, derived biosyntheticaHy in several steps from riboflavin, and dephosphorylation completes the synthesis. 

The impetus for the synthesis of WC and subsequent development of cemented carbides came from the wire drawing industry where the hard metals are stUl used. The most commonly used grade is WC-6 wt % Co with medium grain size (1—2 p.m). Compositions having higher cobalt content are used in drawing tubes, rods, and bars. 

Syntheses from Dry Metals and Salts. Only metaUic nickel and iron react direcdy with CO at moderate pressure and temperatures to form metal carbonyls. A report has claimed the synthesis of Co2(CO)g in 99% yield from cobalt metal and CO at high temperatures and pressures (91,92). The CO has to be absolutely free of oxygen and carbon dioxide or the yield is drastically reduced. Two patents report the formation of carbonyls from molybdenum and tungsten metal (93,94). Ruthenium and osmium do not react with CO even under drastic conditions (95,96). 

Conventional Transportation Fuels. Synthesis gas produced from coal gasification or from natural gas by partial oxidation or steam reforming can be converted into a variety of transportation fuels, such as gasoline, aviation turbine fuel (see Aviation and other gas turbine fuels), and diesel fuel. A widely known process used for this appHcation is the Eischer-Tropsch process which converts synthesis gas into largely aHphatic hydrocarbons over an iron or cobalt catalyst. The process was operated successfully in Germany during World War II and is being used commercially at the Sasol plants in South Africa. 

Medium Pressure Synthesis. Pressures of 500—2000 kPa (5—20 atm) were typical for the medium pressure Fischer-Tropsch process. Cobalt catalysts similar to those used for the normal pressure synthesis were typically used at temperatures ranging from 170 to 200°C ia tubular "heat exchanger" type reactors. 

Cobalt is one of twenty-seven known elements essential to humans (28) (see Mineral NUTRIENTS). It is an integral part of the cyanocobalamin [68-19-9] molecule, ie, vitamin B 2> only documented biochemically active cobalt component in humans (29,30) (see Vitamins, VITAMIN Vitamin B 2 is not synthesized by animals or higher plants, rather the primary source is bacterial flora in the digestive system of sheep and cattle (8). Except for humans, nonmminants do not appear to requite cobalt. Humans have between 2 and 5 mg of vitamin B22, and deficiency results in the development of pernicious anemia. The wasting disease in sheep and cattle is known as bush sickness in New Zealand, salt sickness in Florida, pine sickness in Scotland, and coast disease in AustraUa. These are essentially the same symptomatically, and are caused by cobalt deficiency. Symptoms include initial lack of appetite followed by scaliness of skin, lack of coordination, loss of flesh, pale mucous membranes, and retarded growth. The total laboratory synthesis of vitamin B 2 was completed in 65—70 steps over a period of eleven years (31). The complex stmcture was reported by Dorothy Crowfoot-Hodgkin in 1961 (32) for which she was awarded a Nobel prize in 1964. 

The breadth of reactions catalyzed by cobalt compounds is large. Some types of reactions are hydrotreating petroleum (qv), hydrogenation, dehydrogenation, hydrodenitrification, hydrodesulfurization, selective oxidations, ammonoxidations, complete oxidations, hydroformylations, polymerizations, selective decompositions, ammonia (qv) synthesis, and fluorocarbon synthesis (see Fluorine compounds, organic). 

Ethanol can also be obtained by the reaction of methanol with synthesis gas at 185°C and under pressure (6.9—20.7 MPa or 68—204 atm) in the presence of a cobalt octacarbonyl catalyst (177). However, although ethanol was the primary product, methyl formate, methyl, propyl and butyl acetates, propyl and butyl alcohols, and methane were all present in the product. 

A Belgian patent (178) claims improved ethanol selectivity of over 62%, starting with methanol and synthesis gas and using a cobalt catalyst with a hahde promoter and a tertiary phosphine. At 195°C, and initial carbon monoxide pressure of 7.1 MPa (70 atm) and hydrogen pressure of 7.1 MPa, methanol conversions of 30% were indicated, but the selectivity for acetic acid and methyl acetate, usehil by-products from this reaction, was only 7%. Ruthenium and osmium catalysts (179,180) have also been employed for this reaction. The addition of a bicycHc trialkyl phosphine is claimed to increase methanol conversion from 24% to 89% (181). 

Hydroformylation. In hydroformylation, the 0x0 reaction, ethylene reacts with synthesis gas (CO + H2) over a cobalt catalyst at 60—200°C... 

Remarkably few examples of this type of ring construction are available. The cobalt carbonyl hydride catalyzed hydroformylation of A/,A/ -diallylcarbamates has provided 3-pyrrolidinones (Scheme 61a) (81JOC4433). The pyrrole synthesis shown in Scheme 61b depends on Michael addition of ethyl a-lithioisocyanoacetate to ethyl a-isocyanocrotonate (77LA1174). 

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