Patent ID: 6395927
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
Method of preparing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of acetic acid and methyl acetate by simultaneous isomerization and carbonylation, comprising reacting at least one reagent which provides formyl radicals and at least one further reagent which provides methyl radicals, in a reaction mixture containing water, carbon monoxide, a solvent and a catalytic system comprising at least one halogenated promoter and at least one iridium-based compound,wherein the carbon monoxide is maintained in the reaction mixture at a partial pressure between 0.1Â·105 Pa and 25Â·105 Pa, the at least one reagent which provides the formyl radicals is kept below or equal to 20% by weight of the reaction mixture, the at least one reagent which provides the methyl radicals and the at least one reagent which provides the formyl radicals are fed into the mixture so as to provide a molar ratio of methyl radicals to formyl radicals of greater than 1 and water is maintained in the reaction mixture in a non-zero amount which is at most 5% by weight of the reaction mixture.