PURPOSE: To obtain the titled compound in high selectivity and yield even under low pressure conditions, by reacting carbon monoxide with hydrogen in the presence of a catalytic system caontaining a rhodium compound and iron compound and a specific co-catalyst.
CONSTITUTION: In synthesizing an alkane polyol directly from carbon monoxide and hydrogen, the reacting is carried out in the presence of a catalytic system consisting of (A) a rhodium compound, e.g. a complex compound thereof complexed with CO, (B) an iron compound, preferably a negatively charged or zeromvalent iron compound in the oxidation state of the iron, and particularly an iron carbonyl compound, and (C) a co-catalyst selected from (i) an alkaline (earth) metallic compound, (ii) ammonia, a quaternary ammonium compound or an organic amine, and (iii) an organophosphorus compound, preferably an alkali metallic salt of a carboxylic acid, at 200W300°C. Preferably, the caralyst at a ratio between the number of gram-atoms of the respective components in the catalytic system is 0.1W10 iron and 0.1W10 alkali metal based on the rhodium is used.
NAKAMURA HIDEO
SAEKI KENJI
