1174.    ---------------.  [GEMASSMER] Application of the Oxo Reaction to Olefinic Mineral Oil Products.  Scientific Contrib. 8, Laboratory, Merseburg Ammonia Plant, April 1943; Office Publication Board Rept., PB 867, 1 p.

       Possibility of using olefin products from various sources in the Oxo-reaction was investigated.  Most of the materials used required no preliminary refining.  Somewhat higher temperature was required than with olefins from the Fischer synthesis and conversion was also somewhat less (about 50%) than was to be expected from analysis of the samples.  Hydrogenation was influenced by the S content and the boiling range of the oils; the higher boiling fractions hydrogenating the most satisfactorily.  In those products, with which hydrogenation of the intermediate aldehydes did not occur smoothly, the Co₂C formed was still capable of reduction without difficulty to metallic Co, so that the incompletely hydrogenated products after separation of the catalyst were entirely free of metal.  The complete hydrogenation to alcohol could then be carried out smoothly and without loss with the sulfide catalyst at remarkably low temperatures.  The alcohols, recovered either by distillation or by esterification with boric acid, are water clear or pale yellow liquids of a pleasing, weakly aromatic odor having a low melting point and a remarkably high density due apparently to the cyclic structure.  Chemically they behave similarly to other alcohols.  The alcohol sulfates are good detergents, and their high solubility makes possible the use of members as high as C₂₀ for the above purpose.