Process for producing 3-methylthiopropanal

摘要

An object of the present invention is to provide a process capable of producing 3-methylthiopropanal with subgeneration of high-boiling impurities being favorably inhibited. The present invention provides a process for producing 3-methylthiopropanal, comprising reacting acrolein with methylmercaptan in the presence of a triallylamine compound represented by the formula (I):
wherein each of R 1 to R 3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. The reaction of acrolein with methylmercaptan is preferably performed further in the presence of an organic acid. The triallylamine compound represented by the formula (I) is preferably used in an amount of from 0.01 to 1.0 mol based on one mole of the organic acid and in an amount of from 0.1 to 2.0 mmoles based on one mole of methylmercaptan.