Butanal → Formate

Participants

Reaction Steps

In the industrial production of trimethylolpropane, n-butyraldehyde is reacted with formaldehyde in an aqueous solution in the presence of an alkaline catalyst. After the reaction, trimethylolpropane is separated in a usual manner. Thus, after or without an evaporation, the reaction mixture is subjected to extraction with a solvent, for example ethyl acetate, amyl alcohol, methyl isobutyl ketone, hexyl alcohol, isooctyl alcohol or cyclohexanol. In this way a solution of trimethylolpropane substantially free from formate is obtained. Alternatively, water is substantially removed from the reaction mixture, whereupon the concentrate is filtered while hot to separate formate from crude trimethylolpropane.

Provenance & Evidence