Coupling of Alcohols over Alkali-Promoted Cobalt-Molybdenum Sulfide

Double or nothing: Higher alcohols are produced by the hydrogenation of CO with a K-promoted Co-MoS2/C catalyst. Ethanol, which is passed over the sulfide catalyst along with CO and H2, is mainly converted into 1-butanol, which indicates that alcohol condensation contributes to the build-up of higher alcohols over the sulfide catalyst. In a nitrogen atmosphere, ethanol is also in part converted into 1-butanol, although ethyl acetate is the major product.