Patent ID: 7767865
Filing Date: 2010-08-03
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
1. A process for preparing hydroxypivalaldehyde by aldolizing isobutyraldehyde with formaldehyde and subsequently working up the resulting reaction effluent by distillation, which comprises feeding the reaction effluent to a distillation column which is operated at a top pressure in the range from 0.5 to 1.5 bar and in which a two-stage condensation is provided in the top region, in which the vapors are first conducted into a partial condenser operated at a temperature in the range from 50 to 80° C., whose condensate is recycled at least partly into the distillation column, and in which the vapors uncondensed in the partial condenser are fed to a downstream condenser operated at a temperature in the range from −40 to +30° C., whose condensate is at least partly discharged.