Butanal → 2-Ethyl-3-hydroxyhexanal

Participants

Reaction Steps

This compound is usually prepared by the hydroformylation of propene yielding a reaction mixture which contains n-butanal, as well as i-butanal and other reaction products. The pure n-butanal is separated from the reaction mixture by distillation and is subsequently subjected to aldolisation to form the corresponding butyraldol. This product is heated, water splits off, and 2-ethyl-hexenal is formed. This compound is then hydrogenated in the presence of appropriate catalysts to form the desired 2-ethyl-hexanol which is then purified in a multi-step distillation process.

Provenance & Evidence