An investigation has been made of a series of supported rhodium catalysts in the synthesis of oxygen-containing compounds from carbon monoxide and hydrogen. It was established that, in the temperature range 180-380 degrees C at pressures of 2.0-5.0 MPa, most active in the formation of the target products are catalysts containing 2.5% Ph on a support - wide-pore SiO2 with a specific surface of 30 m(2)/g. It is expedient to use lanthanum, cerium or rhenium as the promoters. The best of the catalysts investigated exhibited stability over a period of 150 hr at 10.0 MPa and 300-330 degrees C, ensuring a productivity with respect to ethanol of 55-65 g/kg Cat . hr, and with respect to total oxygen-containing C-2 compounds of 60-68 g/kg Cat . hr.