Unpromoted and Carboxylic Acid-Promoted Ruthenium Catalysts

Unpromoted and Carboxylic Acid-Promoted Ruthenium Catalysts 

Catalyst solutions generated by the reaction of Ru(acac)3 or Ru3(CO)12 with H2/CO have been reported by Bradley to produce methanol and methyl formate as the major products (164, 165). Methyl formate is produced at a constant rate, suggesting that it is a primary product and not derived from 

Small amounts of ethylene glycol have been reported as products after ruthenium-catalyzed reactions in NMP and toluene solvents at 2000 atm (39). However, observations of minor amounts of this product must be viewed with caution unless great care is taken in the experimental procedure. For example, it was earlier reported that a catalyst derived from Ru,(CO)l2 

Solvent Notes Pressure (atm) Temp. rc) —och2ch2o— rate (hr ) CHjO— rate (hr1) Methyl formate rale (hr1) 

Traces of ethylene glycol have been detected in catalytic solutions derived from Ru3(CO),2 in THF solvent, after reaction at pressures of 1000-1500 atm (176) a blank run containing no Ru3(CO)12 immediately preceding these experiments produced no detectable glycol. The major products of these ruthenium-catalyzed experiments were found to be methanol and methyl formate. 

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IV. Unpromoted and Carboxylic Acid-Promoted Ruthenium Catalysts... 

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