3,3-Dimethylbutanal is prepared from 3,3-dimethybutanol. Intermediate 3,3-dimethylbutanol is obtained by reacting ethylene, isopropylene and a mineral acid to produce a 3,3-dimethylbutyl ester which is hydrolyzed to the alcohol. The hydrolysis step is effectively carried out by reactive distillation. Alternatively, 3,3-dimethylbutanal is prepared from 3,3-dimethylbutanol obtained by reduction of the corresponding carboxylic acid or 1,2-epoxy-3,3-dimethylbutane, or by hydrolysis of 1-halo-3,3-dimethylbutane. Fixed bed gas phase and stirred tank liquid phase processes are provided for converted 3,3-dimethylbutanol to 3,3-dimethylbutanal by catalytic dehydrogenation.
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/400,558, filed Mar. 27, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,164,049, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/575,107, filed May 19, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,573,409. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/575,107 claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/142,122, filed Jul. 2, 1999. The entire texts of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/575,107 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/142,122 are incorporated herein by reference.
