Butyraldehyde

The dominant technology involves the use of rhodium catalysts derived from the water-soluble ligand tppts.

An aqueous solution of the rhodium catalyst converts the propylene to the aldehyde, which forms a lighter (less dense) immiscible phase.

Important reactions include hydrogenation to the alcohol, oxidation to the acid, and base-catalyzed condensation.

This unsaturated aldehyde is then partially hydrogenated to form 2-ethylhexanal, a precursor to plasticizers such as bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate.

[4] Butyraldehyde is a component in the two-step synthesis of trimethylolpropane, which is used for the production of alkyd resins.

Structural formula of butyraldehyde
Structural formula of butyraldehyde
Flat structure
Flat structure
Ball-and-stick model
Ball-and-stick model
NFPA 704 four-colored diamond Health 3: Short exposure could cause serious temporary or residual injury. E.g. chlorine gas Flammability 3: Liquids and solids that can be ignited under almost all ambient temperature conditions. Flash point between 23 and 38 °C (73 and 100 °F). E.g. gasoline Instability 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogen Special hazards (white): no code
A major use of butyraldehyde is in the production of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate , a major plasticizer.