Cativa Process for Acetic Acid Synthesis

10 May, 2017 / by SK / in Reactions

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Industrial Importance
Scale Up of Catalytic Chemistry
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General Characteristics

Acetic acid is produced in different ways, such as by carbonylation of methanol and oxidation of acetaldehyde or hydrocarbons. The two carbonylation processes, the rhodium-catalyzed Monsanto process and the iridium-catalyzed Cativa process, are used to supply 60% of all acetic acid in the world.

General References

Sunley, G. J.; Watson, D. J. Catalysis Today, 2000, 58, 293. DOI:10.1016/S0920-5861(00)00263-7

Reaction Mechanism

The catalytic cycle is fundamentally similar to the Monsanto process.

Adding an inexpensive promotor increases the catalytic efficiency. The promotor is thought to scavenge iodide ions and create a coordination site for CO, facilitating the migratory insertion step. (Ref: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 2847.)