process for preparing gilcol glycol and lower monossidrilici alcohols from synthesis gas using a special catalytic system

摘要

Ethylene glycol and lower monohydric alcohols are prepared from syngas in good yield by contacting a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen with a catalyst system comprising a ruthenium-containing compound and a special substituted aromatic compound both dispersed in a low melting quaternary phosphonium salt and heating the resulting mixture at a temperature of at least 150 DEG C. and a pressure of at least 500 psi for sufficient time to produce the desired ethylene glycol and monohydric alcohols, and then removing the same from the reaction mixture.