Cativa Process for Acetic Acid Synthesis

10 May, 2017 / by SK / in Reactions

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Overall Score4.5

Industrial Importance
Scale Up of Catalytic Chemistry

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.)