Propanal → Propane, 1,1-diethoxy-

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Reaction Steps

To 553.2 g of ethanol, 900 g of cyclohexane, and 5.7 g of p-toluenesulfonic acid placed in a 4 liter three-necked flask fitted with a stirrer, dropping funnel, reflux condenser, and internal thermometer, 348.6 g of propionaldehyde are added with stirring in the course of 5 minutes. Owing to the acetal formation, which starts spontaneously, the internal temperature rises to about 40° C. The mixture is allowed to react at 40° C. for 30 minutes, a pH of 7.0 is then established in the reaction mixture, which is composed of a lower water phase and an upper organic phase, by addition of sodium hydroxide solution (20% aqueous solution) and the water phase is separated. To remove the low-boiling components, the organic phase is subjected to initial distillation at 1013 mbar and a bottom temperature up to 121° C.

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