Ruthenium-cobalt carbonyl metal cluster catalysts for the dealkoxyhydroxymethylation of acetals to form glycol ethers

摘要

The ruthenium-cobalt carbonyl metal cluster catalyst Co.sub.2 Ru(CO). sub.11 effectively catalyzes the dealkoxyhydroxymethylation of aldehyde acetals to form glycol monoethers. Methylal, for example, may be reacted with syngas, i.e., CO and H.sub.2, in the presence of this ruthenium- cobalt cluster catalyst to form the monomethyl ether of ethylene glycol.