The Effect of a Solvent on the Carbonylation of Methanol Catalyzed by Rhodium Complexes in the Presence of Methyl Iodide

Abstract

Abstract In the synthesis of acetic acid by the carbonylation of methanol catalyzed by RhCl3·3H2O or Rh2Cl2(CO)4in the presence of methyl iodide, it was found that ketone solvents, such as acetophenone and benzophenone, keep both the catalytic activity and selectivity high, even at an elevated temperature. The kinetic results in acetophenone are in agreement with the mechanism proposed by Paulik and Roth. The effect of the ketone solvent was discussed by taking account of the competitive oxidative addition of hydrogen iodide with methyl iodide.