| abstract |
An improved Guerbet alcohol process in which a starting alcohol is condensed in the presence of a base to provide a Guerbet alcohol having more carbon atoms than the starting alcohol. The improvements in the process include (a) the use of certain carbonyl compounds at temperatures of greater than 180 °C to initiate and promote the condensation reaction; (b) the use of certain carbonyl compounds after substantial completion of the reaction to again resume the reaction resulting in increased conversion to the Guerbet alcohol and (c) the use of alcohols, alkoxides and hydrides after completion of the reaction to reduce levels of contaminating compounds. |