This work describes the stoichiometric reduction of carbon monoxide, coordinated to a metal, by hydrogen (in hydride form) using homogeneous ionic systems formed by the combination of two ionic complexes such as [MoH 3 (PMePh 2 ) 3 ] + or [WH 5 (PMePh 2 ) 4 ] + with [Rh 12 (CO) 34 ] 2- or [Co (CO) 4 ] - dissolved in polar solvents. In an atmosphere of synthesis gas (CO / H 2), using pressures ranging from 5 to 100 atms. and temperatures of 25 to 200 ° C, a detectable amount of ethylene glycol was produced and identified by means of liquid-gas chromatography (GFR), infrared spectroscopy, proton magnetic nuclear resonance ( 1 Hrm) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC / MS).
