Methanol rhodium catalysts

CO, and methanol react in the first step in the presence of cobalt carbonyl catalyst and pyridine [110-86-1] to produce methyl pentenoates. A similar second step, but at lower pressure and higher temperature with rhodium catalyst, produces dimethyl adipate [627-93-0]. This is then hydrolyzed to give adipic acid and methanol (135), which is recovered for recycle. Many variations to this basic process exist. Examples are ARCO s palladium/copper-catalyzed oxycarbonylation process (136—138), and Monsanto s palladium and quinone [106-51-4] process, which uses oxygen to reoxidize the by-product... 

The original catalysts for this process were iodide-promoted cobalt catalysts, but high temperatures and high pressures (493 K and 48 MPa) were required to achieve yields of up to 60% (34,35). In contrast, the iodide-promoted, homogeneous rhodium catalyst operates at 448—468 K and pressures of 3 MPa. These conditions dramatically lower the specifications for pressure vessels. Yields of 99% acetic acid based on methanol are readily attained (see Acetic acid Catalysis). 

The direct formation of a dimethyl ketal by reaction of the ketone with methanol is particularly sensitive to steric effects. Only cyclohexanones react under these conditions.In the steroid series only saturated 3-ketones form dimethyl ketals with methanol and acid although partial reaction of a 2-ketone has been observed in the presence of homogenous rhodium catalyst. ... 

The dimethyl ketal function (51) is one of the most suitable base stable protecting groups for saturated 5a- and 5/i-3-ketones. It is formed by reaction of the ketone (50) with methanol in the presence of a suitable catalyst. Good selectivity can also be achieved with this group since 2-, 6-, 11-, 12-, 17- and 20-ketones do not form dimethyl ketals under these conditions. The 2-ketone is converted in part to the dimethyl ketal in the presence of homogeneous rhodium catalyst. "" y -Toluenesulfonic acid is the catalyst of... 

Such a complex, cw-Rh(CO)2I2, is the active species in the Monsanto process for low-pressure carbonylation of methanol to ethanoic acid. The reaction is first order in iodomethane and in the rhodium catalyst the rate-determining step is oxidative addition between these followed by... 

Meanwhile, Wacker Chemie developed the palladium-copper-catalyzed oxidative hydration of ethylene to acetaldehyde. In 1965 BASF described a high-pressure process for the carbonylation of methanol to acetic acid using an iodide-promoted cobalt catalyst (/, 2), and then in 1968, Paulik and Roth of Monsanto Company announced the discovery of a low-pressure carbonylation of methanol using an iodide-promoted rhodium or iridium catalyst (J). In 1970 Monsanto started up a large plant based on the rhodium catalyst. 

The rate of the methanol carbonylation reaction in the presence of iridium catalysts is very similar to that observed in the presence of rhodium catalysts under comparable conditions (29). This is perhaps initially surprising in view of the well-recognized greater nucleophilicity of iridium(I) complexes as compared to their rhodium(I) analogues. It can be seen from the above studies that the difference in the chemistry of the metals at the trivalent stage of the catalytic cycle serves to produce faster rates of alkyl migration with the rhodium system thus, overall the two metal catalysts give comparable rates. 

An alternative strategy for catalyst immobilisation uses ion-pair interactions between ionic catalyst complexes and polymeric ion exchange resins. Since all the rhodium complexes in the catalytic methanol carbonylation cycle are anionic, this is an attractive candidate for ionic attachment. In 1981, Drago et al. described the effective immobilisation of the rhodium catalyst on polymeric supports based on methylated polyvinylpyridines [48]. The activity was reported to be equal to the homogeneous system at 120 °C with minimal leaching of the supported catalyst. The ionically bound complex [Rh(CO)2l2] was identified by infrared spectroscopic analysis of the impregnated resin. 

Methanol process. BASF introduced high-pressure technology way back in I960 to make acetic acid out of methanol and carbon monoxide instead of ethylene. Monsanto subsequently improved the process by catalysis, using an iodide-promoted rhodium catalyst. This permits operations at much lower pressures and temperatures. The methanol and carbon monoxide, of course, come from a synthesis gas plant. 

Oligomerization and polymerization of terminal alkynes may provide materials with interesting conductivity and (nonlinear) optical properties. Phenylacetylene and 4-ethynyltoluene were polymerized in water/methanol homogeneous solutions and in water/chloroform biphasic systems using [RhCl(CO)(TPPTS)2] and [IrCl(CO)(TPPTS)2] as catalysts [37], The complexes themselves were rather inefficient, however, the catalytic activity could be substantially increased by addition of MesNO in order to remove the carbonyl ligand from the coordination sphere of the metals. The polymers obtained had an average molecular mass of = 3150-16300. The rhodium catalyst worked at room temperature providing polymers with cis-transoid structure, while [IrCl(CO)(TPPTS)2] required 80 °C and led to the formation of frani -polymers. 

In situ HP IR studies of methanol carbonylation reactions were originally undertaken by Forster and co-workers at Monsanto. Using a transmission cell, it was shown that for the rhodium catalyst, the dominant species (at relatively high... 

There has been a recent resurgence of interest in iridium catalysed methanol carbonylation, arising from the commercialisation by BP Chemicals of the Cativa process. This uses a promoted iridium catalyst and has now superseded the rhodium catalyst on a number of plants. Its success relies on the discovery of promoters which increase catalytic activity, particularly at commercially desirable low water concentrations. HP IR spectroscopy has been used to investigate the behavior of... 

Reppe reaction involves carbonylation of methanol to acetic acid and methyl acetate and subsequent carbonylation of the product methyl acetate to acetic anhydride. The reaction is carried out at 600 atm and 230°C in the presence of iodide-promoted cobalt catalyst to form acetic acid at over 90% yield. In the presence of rhodium catalyst the reaction occurs at milder conditions at 30 to 60 atm and 150-200°C. Carbon monoxide can combine with higher alcohols, however, at a much slower reaction rate. 

In anhydrous mixtures, the rhodium catalyzed carbonylation is enhanced by the presence of hydrogen. Introduction of hydrogen to a rhodium catalyzed carbonylation of methyl acetate increases the reaction rate and maintains catalyst stability (26) when the hydrogen partial pressure is rather low. It leads to reduced products formation, e.g. acetaldehyde and ethylidene diacetat with higher hydrogen partial pressure, in excess of 50 psi (27, 28). This is a clear indication that hydrogen is added to the coordination sphere of the rhodium catalyst. However, in the case of methanol carbonylation, the presence of hydrogen does not enhance the reaction rate or lead... 

The synthesis of acetic acid (AcOH) from methanol (MeOH) and carbon monoxide has been performed industrially in the liquid phase using a rhodium complex catalyst and an iodide promoter ( 4). The selectivity to acetic acid is more than 99% under mild conditions (175 C, 28 atm). The homogeneous rhodium catalyst is also effective for the synthesis of acetic anhydride (Ac O) by the carbonylation of dimethyl ether (DME) or methyl acetate (AcOMe) (5-13). However, rhodium is one of the most expensive metals, and its proved reserves are quite limited. It is highly desirable, therefore, to develop a new catalyst as a substitute for rhodium. 

Carbonylation of methanol to form acetic acid has been performed industrially using carbonyl complexes of cobalt ( ) or rhodium (2 ) and iodide promoter in the liquid phase. Recently, it has been claimed that nickel carbonyl or other nickel compounds are effective catalysts for the reaction at pressure as low as 30 atm (2/4), For the rhodium catalyst, the conditions are fairly mild (175 C and 28 atm) and the product selectivity is excellent (99% based on methanol). However, the process has the disadvantages that the proven reserves of rhodium are quite limited in both location and quantity and that the reaction medium is highly corrosive. It is highly desirable, therefore, to develop a vapor phase process, which is free from the corrosion problem, utilizing a base metal catalyst. The authors have already reported that nickel on activated carbon exhibits excellent catalytic activity for the carbonylation of... 

Rate parameters of all unit reactions were determined by a differential reaction technique and are summarized in Table III for the Ni/A.C. catalyst. For methyl acetate formation, the reaction orders with respect to methyl iodide, methanol and carbon monoxide are 0.1, 0.6 and 0.7, respectively, which are remarkably different from those for the rhodium catalyst (1.0, 0 and 0, respectively)... 

Table III. Methanol homologation with ruthenium-rhodium catalysts...

Palladium and rhodium based catalysts, which yield methanol and ethanol from synthesis gas respectively, were selected for a mechanistic study. Chemical trapping showed a correlation between formyl species and the catalytic activity, indicating that these species probably are reaction intermediates. The role of the support on the activity and on the nature of the products was elucidated by chemical trapping of formyl, methoxy and formate species on palladium catalysts, and of formyl and acetate on rhodium catalysts. The rhodium catalysts were also studied by probe molecule experiments CH CHO) and by FT-IR spectroscopy (chemi-... 

The possible intermediacy of formaldehyde in CO hydrogenation has been addressed above with regard to the cobalt catalytic system. Fahey has observed a small amount of 1,3-dioxolane (the ethylene glycol acetal of formaldehyde) as a product of the rhodium system (43). Thus, there is evidence that formaldehyde or a complexed form of this molecule could be an intermediate in the CO reduction process by this system. Rhodium catalysts are indeed found to be useful for the hydroformylation of formaldehyde to glycolaldehyde (159-161) methanol is a by-product in these reactions. 

Several differences between the cobalt- and rhodium-catalyzed processes are noteworthy with regard to mechanism. Although there is a strong dependence in the cobalt system of the ethylene glycol/methanol ratio on temperature, CO partial pressure, and H2 partial pressure, these dependences are much lower for the rhodium catalyst. Details of the product-forming steps are therefore perhaps quite different in the two systems. It is postulated for the cobalt system that the same catalyst produces all of the primary products, but there seems to be no indication of such behavior for the rhodium system. Indeed, the multiplicity of rhodium species possibly present during catalysis and the complex dependence on promoters make it... 

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