TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: In step (i), the ratio of moles of ammonia contained in the aqueous ammonia divided by moles of molybdenum contained in the ammonium dimolybdate is 1.2-2 (preferably 1.5-1.8). The step (ii) includes a stoichiometric excess of the hydrogen sulfide to produce the (MoS4)2-. The tetrathiomolybdate solution in step (ii) or (iii) is supersaturated. The ratio of (MoS4)2-/(MoOS3)2- in the tetrathiomolybdate solution is 5-100. The step (v) includes filtering in the presence of air or a substantially inert environment. The method further comprises washing the filter cake after step (v) with water. The washing step removes at least 99% of sulfates present prior to the washing. The filter cake is not dried between steps (v) and (vi). The step (vi) includes calcining the dried material in a substantially inert environment. The method further comprises cooling the calcined material in a substantially inert environment; and combining the calcined material with the base promoter, for producing a base-promoted catalyst. The step (vi) is carried out immediately after step (v). The base promoter is introduced to the filter cake prior to step (vi). The base promoter is added in solid form to the filter cake and then the filter cake with the base promoter is collectively subjected to step (vi). In step (vi), the drying step is carried out at 80-200 (preferably 100-150) degrees C and calcining at a calcination temperature of 350-650 (preferably 450-550) degrees C. The calcining is conducted for a calcination time of 10 minutes to 4 hours (preferably 1-2 hours). The drying and calcining steps are carried out in the same apparatus. The step (vi) further includes dwelling at an intermediate temperature higher than the drying temperature and lower than the calcination temperature, where the dwelling is conducted for 1-24 hours. The intermediate temperature is 120-350 (preferably 200-300) degrees C. The dwell time is 2-16 (preferably 4-8) hours. Preferred Composition: The tetrathiomolybdate solution further includes a non-zero amount of ((MoOS3)2-). The Co(II) solution in step (iii) is a cobalt acetate solution or a cobalt sulfate solution. Preferred Components: The base promoter is potassium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, potassium oxalate or potassium acetate.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The 1-4C alcohol is ethanol. Preferred Process: The preparation of (II) further comprises co-feeding methanol in an amount in equilibrium with the syngas or at less than an amount in equilibrium with the syngas. EXAMPLE - Ammonium dimolybdate was dissolved in ammoniacal water. Ammonium molybdate was converted to ammonium tetrathiomolybdate by reaction with hydrogen sulfide, utilizing 4.2 plus minus 0.1 moles hydrogen sulfide/molybdenum. Cobalt acetate was added to the tetrathiomolybdate solution to produce precipitate initially then cobalt-molybdenum-sulfur (Co-Mo-S) suspension was formed. The precipitation was finished by pumping the Co-Mo-S suspension into a precipitation vessel. The vessel was initially charged with 2 vol./vol.% sulfuric acid solution. The volume of this initial charge was 8% of the total amount of liquid to be filtered. Concentrated sulfuric acid was added simultaneously with the Co-Mo-S suspension to the precipitation vessel. The pH was maintained at 2.5-3 during precipitation. The precipitate was filtered and washed, yielding 2 kg of material, then washed with deionized water (2 l) prior to calcination. The wet cake was dried and then subsequently calcined at 500 degrees C for 1 hour, all under nitrogen. The calcined material was packed under nitrogen for further processing into finished catalyst.