2-ETHYLHEXANAL PRODUCTION PROCESS Russian patent published in 2006 - IPC C07C47/02 C07C45/82 C07C29/80 

FIELD: industrial organic synthesis.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to improved process for production of 2-ethylhexanal, which is raw material for production 2-ethylhexanoic acid and/or 2-ethylhexanol. Starting material of invention is bottom residue from rectification of butyl alcohols produced in oxo synthesis, from which bottom residue a fraction mainly containing saturated and unsaturated C₈-alcohols with 5-15% of C₁₂-acetals is isolated on two columns operated at column top residual pressure 50-90 mm Hg. This fraction is subjected to vapor-phase processing at atmospheric pressure on copper-containing catalyst at 200-300°C followed by rectification of catalysate on two columns to isolate, as first-column top distillate, fraction obtained at 20-50 mm Hg and containing light components and 2-ethylhexanal, which fraction is fed into second column operated at column top residual pressure 60-100 mm Hg to isolate distilled fraction containing light components and 30-60% of 2-ethylhexanal, whereas desired 2-ethylhexanal is recovered as bottom product or as product tapped from the side of bottom column section.

EFFECT: improved quality and yield of desired product.

2 cl, 14 ex