Formation of C(2)-oxygenated compounds from the reaction of CO and H2 over alkali-metal doped rhodium catalysts under mild conditions

Abstract

Novel rhodium catalysts, prepared from M₃RhCl₆(M = alkali metal), give C(2)-oxygenated compounds with good selectivity from a CO–H₂ mixture below atmospheric pressure; the nature of the active sites in the formation of the oxygenated compounds is discussed.