The vapour phase heterogeneous-catalytic hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds and carbon monoxide

A systematic account is given of data on the mechanisms and kinetics of processes involving the vapour phase hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds and carbon monoxide to hydrocarbon on transition metals. The activity and selectivity series in relation to the reduction of the carbonyl group and CO are determined mainly by the energies of the bonds formed by the compounds hydrogenated and hydrogen with the metal. The bond energy depends in its turn both on the chemical nature of the metal and on the degree of its dispersion. The role of the geometrical factor, which influences the concentration of the active centres, is also examined.
Rules for the selection of catalysts for the hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds and CO on transition metals have been formulated on the basis of the relations discovered between the physicochemical and catalytic properties.
The bibliography includes 110 references.