JPH0323541B

PURPOSE:To prepare the titled compound useful as a synthetic raw material of methionine, in high yield and selectivity, by reacting methanol with H2S essentially in the first reactor and reacting the by-products with H2S essentially in the second reactor, wherein each reaction is carried out in the presence of a catalyst suitable for the respective reaction system. CONSTITUTION:Methyl mercaptan is prepared by the vapor-phase reaction of methanol and hydrogen sulfide. In the above process, the reaction is carried out at 300-430 deg.C in the first reactor containing an active alumina catalyst (e.g. a mixture of active alumina and potassium tungstate) which catalyzes essentially the reaction of methanol with hydrogen sulfide, and methyl mercaptan is separated from the reaction product. The unreacted methanol and H2S are mixed with fresh methanol and unreacted H2S, and reacted at 300-400 deg.C in the second reactor containing an active alumina catalyst (e.g. a mixture of active alumina and phosphotungstic acid) which catalyzes essentially the reaction of H2S with dimethyl sulfide, and methyl mercaptan is separated as a reaction product.