Alumina supported rhodium and rhodium-molybdenum catalysts, prepared b
y non-aqueous, sequential chemisorption, are compared for CO hydrogena
tion. The catalysts are also characterized by in situ FTIR. The observ
ed significant increase in CO hydrogenation activity and oxygenate sel
ectivity and the presence of highly dispersed rhodium on the molybdenu
m promoted rhodium catalysts are related to the site isolation effect
of molybdenum. The parity of rhodium and molybdenum in the catalysts s
eems to be important for improving oxygenate yield.