| abstract |
A process for condensing aldehydes where an aldehyde having an a hydrogen and having the formula R1CHO, wherein R1 is selected from alkyl having one to twelve carbon atoms and aralkyl having one to fourteen carbon atoms, is combined with hydrated MgO to form a reaction product comprising an aldol of said aldehyde, the unsaturated aldehyde derived by dehydration of said aldol, or mixtures thereof. In a second embodiment, a first composition selected from aldehydes containing an a hydrogen and having the formula R1CHO, wherein R1 is as defined above, is combined with a second composition selected from aldehydes having the formula R2CHO, wherein R2 is selected from H, alkyl having one to twelve carbon atoms, and aralkyl having one to fourteen carbon atoms, and with hydrated MgO, to form a reaction product mixture comprising an aldol of said aldehyde, the unsaturated aldehyde derived by dehydration of said aldol, or mixtures thereof. The aldol or aldehyde formed may be separated from the reaction product mixture, and recovered or treated as desired, or the reaction product mixture may be further directly treated, such as by hydrogenation, to produce a desired product admixture. |