PURPOSE: To obtain the aimed compound in high yield, by using a rhodium catalyst and a specific trialkylphosphine as a reaction accelerator in reacting carbon monoxide with hydrogen in the liquid phase to produce the ethylene glycol.
CONSTITUTION: Carbon monoxide is reacted with hydrogen in the liquid phase in the presence of a catalyst containing (A) rhodium and (B) a compound expressed by the formula PR1R2R3 (R1 is primary alkyl; R2 is secondary W tertiary alkyl or cycloalkyl; R3 is primary W tertiary alkyl or cycloalkyl) to give ethylene glycol useful as a raw material for polyester fibers, etc. in a high level of yield which has not been realizable in the conventional catalyst system. The amount of the compondnt (A) to be used is 0.0001W100g atom, preferably 0.001W10g atom expressed in terms of Rh atom based on 1l reaction solution. The amount of the component (B) to be used is 0.2W1,000mol, preferably 0.2W500mol, particularly 0.5W10mol based on 1g atom Rh.
WATANABE HIDEKAZU
HARA YOSHINORI
MURAYAMA KENJI
TANAKA HIROO
NAKAMURA SHIYUUZOU
DEGUCHI TAKASHI
TAMURA MITSUHISA
ISHINO MASARU
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