The invention discloses a method for preparing
propionate through
ethylene hydrogen esterification reaction, which is characterized in that raw materials
ethylene,
carbon monoxide and low-carbon
alcohol are subjected to
hydrogen esterification reaction in the presence of a catalyst by taking
propionate as a
solvent to synthesize
propionate, the catalyst is composed of a
palladium compound, a naphthyl bidentate
phosphine ligand and an acidic auxiliary agent, and the structure of the naphthyl bidentate
phosphine ligand is shown in the following formula. Wherein m is 0 or 1, and n is 1 or 2; r1 is selected from phenyl,
tertiary butyl, cyclohexyl, 2-pyridyl, 2-thienyl or 2-furyl, and R2 is selected from
tertiary butyl, cyclohexyl, 2-pyridyl, 2-thienyl or 2-furyl. According to the method, the naphthyl bidentate
phosphine is used as the ligand, the product propionate is used as the reaction
solvent, the catalyst activity is high, the yield of the target product propionate is high, and byproducts are few.