Catalytic synthesis of ethyl propionate from ethylene, carbon monoxide and ethanol at high pressure

Abstract

AbstractA comprehensive study has been made of the high‐pressure synthesis of ethyl propionate from ethylene, carbon monoxide and ethanol in the presence of iron, cobalt and nickel catalysts at 2000–8200 p.s.i. and 180–300°. Reduced iron, cobalt and nickel and their carbonyls have practically no catalytic effect, but their halides exhibit excellent catalytic activity. The relative catalytic activities of the halides are in the order: iodides > bromides > chlorides. The activities of the metals are in the order: cobalt > nickel > iron.Under the most favourable conditions (catalyst–metal/silica 50: 50; at 230° 6000 p.s.i. with cobalt and nickel iodide catalysts, and 4400 p.s.i. with ferrous iodide catalyst; residence time 2 h.), the process yields of ethyl propionate based on ethanol input are 57.0, 45.1 and 43.4% with cobalt, nickel and iron iodide catalysts, respectively.