PURPOSE: To efficiently obtain senosioaldehyde useful as a raw material for medicines and perfumes, by removing an alcohol from or dehydrating a specific raw material compound in the presence of an acidic or basic catalyst.
CONSTITUTION: 3-Hydroxy-3-methylbutanal and/or 3-methyl-3-methoxybutanal (hereinafter abbreviated as 3-substituted-3-methylbutanal) is subjected to removal of an alcohol or dehydrated in the presence of an acidic catalyst (e.g. sulfuric acid) or a basic catalyst (e.g. pyridine) to give the objective senosioaldehyde and 3-methyl-3-butenal. The amount of the catalyst used is preferably 0.01-10 pts.wt. based on 100 pts.wt. of the initially fed 3-substituted-3-methylbutanal. The 3-substituted-3-methylbutanal is preferably obtained by oxidizing 3- hydroxy-3-methylbutanol and/or 3-methyl-3-methoxybutanol with a hypochlorite in the presence of an N-oxyl compound.
MAYAHARA KUNIO
ONISHI TAKASHI
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