Water → 2-Methylpentaldehyde

Using the method described in Example 1(b), one part per hour of a 72 percent strength by weight aqueous solution of 2-methyl-2-propyl-3-hydroxypropanal is hydrogenated, over the catalyst prepared as described in Example 1(a), at 130° C. and 30 bar, with a throughput of 0.36 part of 2-methyl-2-propyl-3-hydroxypropanal per liter of catalyst per hour. The conversion is 89.5 percent. The hydrogenated material is fractionated through a packed column. After first runnings of water and small amounts of methanol, 2-methylpentanal and 2-methyl-2-propyl-3-hydroxypropanal, 2-methyl-2-propyl-propane-1,3-diol, of boiling point 112°-113° C./5 mbar (melting point 58°-60° C.), is obtained in an amount corresponding to 0.6967 part per hour. This is equivalent to a yield of 95.3% of theory, based on starting material.