Propionaldehyde

Note that propanol is a different compound.

Propionaldehyde is the organic compound with the formula CH₃CH₂CHO. It is the only 3-carbon aldehyde and is a structural isomer of acetone. It is a colourless liquid with a slightly irritating, fruity odour.

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Propionaldehyde is mainly produced through the hydroformylation, by combining synthesis gas (carbon monoxide and hydrogen) with ethylene using a metal catalyst:

CO + H₂ + C₂H₄ → CH₃CH₂CHO

Uses

It is principally used to make trimethylolethane through a condensation reaction with methanol; this process is important in the production of alkyd resins.

Condensation of propionaldehyde with tert-butylamine gives CH₃CH₂CH=N-t-Bu, a useful three-carbon building block in organic synthesis. Deprotonation of this imine with LDA produces CH₃CHLi₂CH=N-t-Bu, which in turn condenses with aldehydes.^[1]

References

1. ^ Peralta, M. M. "Propionaldehyde t-Butylimine" in Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis (Ed: L. Paquette) 2004, J. Wiley & Sons, New York. DOI: 10.1002/047084289.