Decyl alcohol mixtures, phthalate esters obtained therefrom and their use as plasticisers

摘要

Mixtures of isomeric decyl alcohols are prepared by hydroformylation of mixtures containing but-1-ene and but-2-ene in two stages to give aldehyde mixtures, condensation of the aldehyde mixtures which are separated off and combined with formation of an aldol mixture and separation and hydrogenation of the aldol mixture. The first stage of the hydroformylation is carried out in the presence of rhodium catalysts dissolved in water, the second stage in the presence of cobalt catalysts homogeneously dissolved in the reaction medium. The mixture of isomeric decyl alcohols affords, esterified with phthalic acid, a mixture of isomeric decyl phthalates, which are used as plasticisers.