Synthesis of Ethane-1,2-diol (Ethylene Glycol) through Formose Reaction in Methanol Solvent

The current paper carried out the formose reaction (or the Butlerow reaction) when a fumed (pyrogenic) silica) also known as Aerosil or Cabosil) catalyst is present in methanol, which is one of the simplest forms of alcohol, at pH of 10.6. Ethane-1,2-diol (IUPAC name), also known as ethylene glycol or mono-ethylene glycol, is the reaction's visible product. Furthermore, Aerosil was investigated and identified through various analyses, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). Generally speaking, the results indicated that formose reaction produces ethylene glycol (simplest diol) with low efficiency in the methanolic medium.