NOVELTY - Composition (I) produced by the method comprising obtaining a metal compound (II), (III) or (IV); and calcining the compound under a substantially inert atmosphere, comprises at least one Group VIB element comprising molybdenum and tungsten; at least one Group VIII element comprising cobalt, nickel, and palladium; and sulfur, where (I) is capable of catalyzing the conversion of syngas into one or more reaction products comprising at least one 1-4C alcohol when in the presence of a suitable catalytic promoter.    USE - (I) is useful as catalyst for producing 1-4C alcohol (preferably ethanol) from syngas (all claimed), which is a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide; and is produced from fossil resources such as natural gas, petroleum, coal and lignite and from renewable resources such as lignocellulosic biomass and various carbon-rich waste materials, where the ethanol can replace gasoline and other liquid fuels.    ADVANTAGE - (I) is essentially free of a crystalline phase disulfide of the at least one Group VIII element.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Composition (I) produced by the method comprising obtaining a metal compound having a structure of formula (NR4)x((M1)2M2S8) (II), Ax((M1)2M2S8) (III) or Dy((M1)2M2S8) (IV); and calcining the compound under a substantially inert atmosphere, comprises at least one Group VIB element comprising molybdenum and tungsten; at least one Group VIII element comprising cobalt, nickel, and palladium; and sulfur, where: the molar ratio of sulfur to the combined total of the at least one Group VIB element and the at least one Group VIII element is at least 1.9:1; the molar ratio of the at least one Group VIB element to the at least one Group VIII element is 2:1; (I) is essentially free of a crystalline phase disulfide of the at least one Group VIII element; and (I) is capable of catalyzing the conversion of syngas into one or more reaction products comprising at least one 1-4C alcohol when in the presence of a suitable catalytic promoter.    M1 = Mo or W;    M2 = Co, Ni or Pd;    x = 2 or 3;    R = 3-8C alkyl;    A = K, Rb or Cs;    D = Sr or Ba; and    y = 1 or 1.5.    x is 2 when M2 is Ni or Pd; and x is 3 when M1 is Mo and M2 is Co; y is 1 when M2 is Ni or Pd; and x is 1.5 when M1 is Mo and M2 is Co.