Process for the preparation of 3-hydroxyalkanals

Abstract From the Canadian patent

This invention relates to a process for the preparation of 3-hydroxyalkanals having 3 to 12, in particular 3 or 4 carbon atoms, by hydration of the corresponding 2-alkenals with water in a homogeneous phase in the presence of an acid catalyst. The previously known hydration using mineral acids or carboxylic acids as catalyst results in low volume/time yields and/or low selectivities. These disadvantages can be avoided by using, as catalyst, a dissolved acid-base buffer which results in a pH of from 2 to 5 in the reaction mixture and the acid component and corresponding base of which are present in a total quantity of from 0.5 to 40% by weight in the reaction mixture. The preferred buffers …