Process for preparing glyoxal

摘要

A process for preparing glyoxal which comprises reacting chloroacetaldehyde with a dialkyl sulfoxide. The preferred reaction temperature ranges from 50 DEG to 200 DEG C, and the use of chloroacetaldehyde as a 10-80% aqueous solution gives an increased yield of glyoxal. Neutralization of hydrochloric acid occurring as by-product can be made at the same time as the reaction by adding a weak acid salt or oxide of an alkaline earth metal to the reaction mixture, and results in an increased yield of glyoxal.