Patent ID: 8907129

Claim:
A process for preparing a mixture of isomeric decanecarboxylic acids, the process comprising: a) hydroformylating a hydrocarbon mixture comprising linear C4-olefins, in the presence of a rhodium-containing catalyst system, to obtain a mixture of aliphatic C5-aldehydes; b) condensing, by aldol condensation, the mixture of aliphatic C5-aldehydes, to obtain a mixture of unsaturated C 10-aldehydes; c) hydrogenating, by selective hydrogenation, the mixture of unsaturated C10-aldehydes, to obtain a mixture of aliphatic C10-aldehydes; d) oxidizing, by uncatalysed oxidation, the mixture of aliphatic C10-aldehydes to obtain a mixture of isomeric decanecarboxylic acids, said mixture of acids comprising at least 70% by mass of 2-propylheptanoic acid, based on a total content of isomeric decanecarboxylic acids.