ABSTRACT
The low cost of acetic acid, particularly when manufactured by carbonylation of methanol, makes it an attractive starting material for other, longerchain-length carboxylic acids of commercial value. Unfortunately, there is little in the way of traditional methodology for the condensation or alkylation of the carboxylic acids. Therefore, at present, the commercially desirable carboxylic acids, such as propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, acrylic acid, and crotonic acid, are all generated by processes that involve oxidation of the corresponding aldehyde, as either an intermediate or a starting material.
