Production of carboxylic acids and esters thereof

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A process for the production from an alcohol having n carbon atoms, wherein n is a number from 1 to 20 of a carboxylic, acid having n + 1 carbon atoms and/or an ester of the alcohol having n carbon atoms with the carboxylic acid by reacting the alcohol at a temperature of at least 50°C with carbon monoxide in the presence of a noble metal-containing heterogeneous catalyst and a halogen or halogen compound promoter characterised in that the catalyst comprises a noble metal component bonded to an inorganic oxide having surface hydroxyl groups through the intermediacy of a silicon compound which is condensible with the hydroxyl groups of the inorganic oxide and has either (i) at least one …