Methyl3-hydroxypropanoatewassynthesizedviahydroesterificationofethyleneoxidewithCOinthepresenceofdicobaltoctacarbonylcatalystandmethanolsolvent.Thecatalystexhibitedhighcatalyticactivity.Theeffectofreactiontemperature,COpressure,methanoldosage,catalystdosageandreactiontimeoncatalyticreactionwasinvestigated.Thetestresultsrevealedthatthisreactionwasgreatlyaffectedbyreactiontemperature,butitwasnotsignificantlyaffectedbytheCOpressure,themethanoldosage,thecatalystdosageandthereactiontime.Undertheoptimalconditions,theconversionofethyleneoxidewasequalto92.24%,whiletheselectivityandyieldofmethyl3-hydroxypropanoatereached88.99%and84.35%,respectively.
