Catalytic process for polyhydric alcohols and derivatives

Abstract From the Canadian patent

This invention relates to the manufacture of such valuable chemicals as polyhydric alcohols their ether and ester derivatives, oligomers of such alcohols and monohydric alcohols and their ether and ester derivatives by reacting oxides of carbon and hydrogen in the presence of a bis(triorgano phosphine)iminium cation and a rhodium carbonyl complex provided to the reaction as a rhodium carbonyl cluster anion which possesses an infrared spectrum which exhibits three intense wavelength bands between about plus and minus 10 cm-1 of about 1868 cm-1 about, 1838 cm-1, and about 1785 cm-1 at a pressure of at least about 500 pounds per square inch absolute.