Process for the production of primary branched alcohols

摘要

A method for the preparation of branched primary alcohols comprises reacting a normal alkane with formaldehyde in non-aqueous media in the presence of a free radical initiator. The reaction involves the preferential addition of formaldeyhde to internal carbon atoms of the normal alkane, resulting in a branched primary alcohol containing one carbon more than the alkane reactant. The product alcohols are obtained as mixtures of positional isomers.