| abstract |
New liquid mixtures of isomers of alcohols and aldehydes with 11 to 16 carbon atoms, the compounds being characterized by a main carbon branched in position and a moderate additional branching in most isomers; the aldehyde mixtures are prepared by an economical route from olefins comprising an oxo and aldol reaction, the reaction being carried out so as to give a high percentage of aldolable product, and preferably a base-catalyzed aldol reaction being carried out under conditions that allow for high conversions. The mixtures of aldehydes can be hydrogenated to give alcohols and converted to new ethoxylates or sulfate compositions which can be used as biodegradable detergents; they can otherwise be hydrogenated and oxidized to give new carboxylic acid compositions which also allow use as detergents. |