| abstract |
The invention relates to a method for catalytically hydrating a poly- or monomethylol alkanal of the general formula (I), wherein R is the same or different and may represent a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon with 6 to 22 carbon atoms, an aryl or arylalkyl group with 6 to 22 carbon atoms or a methylol group, in the presence of a copper-containing catalyst. The inventive method is characterized in that the poly- or monomethylol alkanal containing batch to be hydrated has a total content of up to 5 ppm of metal ions of the groups 3 to 14 of the periodic system. |