Propionaldehyde

Propionaldehyde

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

It is principally used as a precursor to trimethylolethane (CH₃C(CH₂OH)₃) through a condensation reaction with formaldehyde; this triol is an important intermediate in the production of alkyd resins. Other applications include reduction to propanol and oxidation to propionic acid.^[1]

Condensation of propionaldehyde with tert-butylamine gives CH₃CH₂CH=N-t-Bu, a three-carbon building block used in organic synthesis. Deprotonation of this imine withLDA produces CH₃CHLiCH=N-t-Bu, which in turn condenses with aldehydes.