Direct Manufacture of Ethylene Glycol from Syngas

Direct Manufacture of Ethylene Glycol from Syngas 

4 Syngas-Based Routes to Glycol Aldehyde and Ethylene Glycol 1619 

Matsuda and coworkers [11] investigated pressure effects on the chemoselectiv-ity of the reaction. In remarkable contrast to the partial pressure of CO, which did not affect the chemoselectivity of the reaction, the partial pressure of played a crucial role. When it was increased, the selectivity toward the formation of ethylene glycol was strongly enhanced, whereas the formation of methanol decreased. Moreover, the selectivity to methyl formate was almost independent of 

In 1987, Murata s group [12] showed the potential of modified ruthenium catalysts. Ru3(CO)j 2 mixed with l-methyl-3-ethyl-benzimidazolium bromide and NEtg gave at 150 °C and a syngas pressure of 10 MPa up to 70% yield of ethylene glycol. 

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