Tuning the catalytic CO hydrogenation to straight- and long-chain aldehydes/alcohols and olefins/paraffins

The catalytic CO hydrogenation is one of the most versatile large-scale chemical syntheses leading to variable chemical feedstock. While traditionally mainly methanol and long-chain hydrocarbons are produced by CO hydrogenation, here we show that the same reaction can be tuned to produce long-chain n -aldehydes, 1-alcohols and olefins, as well as n -paraffins over potassium-promoted CoMn catalysts. The sum selectivity of aldehydes and alcohols is usually >50 wt% whereof up to ∼97% can be n -aldehydes. While the product slate contains ∼60% n -aldehydes at "Equation missing"/ p CO =0.5, a 65/35% slate of paraffins/alcohols is obtained at a ratio of 9. A linear Anderson–Schulz–Flory behaviour, independent of the "Equation missing"/ p CO ratio, is found for the sum of C 4+ products. We advocate a synergistic interaction between a Mn 5 O 8 oxide and a bulk Co 2 C phase, promoted by the presence of potassium, to be responsible for the unique product spectra in our studies.