Synthesis of Aldehydes and Alcohols

Most of the literature concerns methanol hydrocarbonylation [167]. The reaction has been extended to benzylic alcohols [48,49]  

In a comparable reaction, methyl esters can be homologated into the corresponding ethyl esters [50,168]  

---

The mechanism for synthesis of alcohols and aldehydes from amino acids has been discussed in a review by Morgan (1976). Both S. lactis and its malty variant can reversibly form keto acids from the amino acids valine, leucine, isoleucine, methionine, and phenylalanine. However, unlike S. lactis, S. lactis var. maltigenes can decarboxylate these keto acids to form aldehydes and reduce the aldehydes to their corresponding alcohols through the action of alcohol dehydrogenase in the presence of NADH. 

Cobalt compounds are useful chemical catalysts for the synthesis of fuels (Fi-scher-Tropsch process), the synthesis of alcohols and aldehydes from olefins, hydrogen and carbon monoxide at elevated temperatures and pressures ( oxo process , hydroformylation ). They are also used in petroleum refining and the oxidation of organic compounds. In the oxo process, cobalt carbonyl, Co2(CO)g, is employed or generated in situ. For the selective production of n-butanol from propylene, hydrogen and CO, an organophosphine-modified cobalt carbonyl complex is used as the catalyst. Cobalt salts are proven oxidation catalysts examples include the production of terephthalic acid by the oxidation of p-xylene, and the manufacture of phenol by the oxidation of toluene. 

---