A Co/Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst prepared by cobalt impregnation of a commercial methanol-synthesis catalyst was used to study the formation of alcohols from CO/H-2. The addition of cobalt selectively and significantly suppressed methanol formation without promoting the formation rates of higher alcohols. Co also poisoned the promoting effect of CO2 on methanol formation, suggesting that the primary role of Co was to block the pathway for methanol formation from CO2/H-2. The addition of nitromethane to Co/Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 suppressed the formation rates of all alcohols equally and produced substituted methylamines, probably by diverting the aldehydic intermediate for methanol formation, The equal suppression of C-1-C-3 alcohols observed during nitromethane addition suggests that the same intermediate was involved in the formation of methanol and higher alcohols over Co/Cu/ZnO/Al2O3.