ABSTRACT
This chapter is concerned with the synthesis of oxygenated chemicals of mostly, but not exclusively, two carbon oxygenated compounds. Methanol promises to be the raw material that may displace ethylene and other petrochemical feedstocks from chemical syntheses. The trend in processes for the synthesis of chemicals is shifting away from high energy and usually expensive intermediates toward lower energy, more available and secure materials such as methanol and synthesis gas. The rhodium-catalyzed carbonylation of methanol to acetic acid is unusual in that the concentrations of reactants and products have no kinetic influences. Since acetic acid is synthesized from methanol and CO, the process is already based on synthesis gas for 70% of its weight and has high yields and moderate processing costs. Methanol is efficiently made from synthesis gas and formaldehyde is easily made from methanol. Methanol is converted to an alkali methoxide, say NaOCH3, by addition of an alkali metal or its hydride to the alcohol.
