Abstract: The products derived from synthesis gas conversions by homogeneous catalysis are concluded to be formed via the key intermediate formaldehyde. The intermediacy of formaldehyde is supported by reaction rate studies, comparison reactions of formaldehyde with synthesis gas, and the trapping of formaldehyde and glycolaldehyde intermediates during a reaction as their ethylene glycol acetals. Although the formation of formaldehyde ...
[Sanderson, John R.; Yeakey, Ernest L.; Lin, Jiang J.; Duranleau, Roger; Marquis, Edward T. Journal of Organic Chemistry, 1987 , vol. 52, # 15 p. 3243 - 3246]