We compare the autothermal partial oxidation of 1-propanol and 2-propanol with methanol and ethanol on Rh with several additives in short-contact time reactors. All alcohols could produce H-2 at 70-90% selectivity, and Rh-Ce was superior to Rh in producing H-2. Methanol produced high conversion and high selectivity to H-2 even at high C/O where temperatures fell to < 600 degrees C. 2-Propanol gave lower conversions and less H-2 and CO than the other alcohols, but produced the most chemicals. Above C/O = 1.5, similar to 70% of 2-propanol was converted into acetone or propylene. Up to 20% propylene was formed at C/O = 1.5. In contrast, 1-propanol gave < 8% propylene and < 15% propanal at any C/O and produced more ethylene than propylene. Much more oxygenates and olefins were formed on Rh than on Rh-Ce. These results show that different alcohols have very different selectivity in catalytic partial oxidation at short contact times even at high temperatures. Rapid adsorption of alcohols as alkoxy species leads to complete dissociation to H-2 and CO. Our results suggest that acetone and olefins likely were produced primarily by homogeneous reactions after all O-2 had been consumed in the catalyst. Although alkanes do not form significant oxygenates by partial oxidation at short contact times, alcohols can be made to produce predominantly oxygenates through suitable adjustments of C/O and catalyst. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.