Promoting effect of phosphates upon homogeneous methanol carbonylation

Phosphates were adopted as promoters in homogeneous methanol carbonylation catalyzed by Monsanto catalysts. Phosphates demonstrated excellent promoting effect under harsh reaction conditions by increasing the reaction rate above 2.5 times that of traditional Monsanto catalyst. When at low promoter content, phosphates are greatly superior to the widely reported LiI in the enhancement of the catalytic activity in both the lower and higher water concentrations. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.