Abstract

A process for the production of cupric and manganous alkanoates containing from 6 to 9 carbon atoms is described. This process comprises first thermally decomposing a mixture of cupric and manganous oxalates, obtained from the oxidation of C6 to C9 aldehydes to the corresponding acids using a mixture of copper and manganese compounds soluble in the acid product as the catalyst, in the presence of an organic saturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acid containing from 6 to 9 carbon atoms, and in the absence of oxygen, to produce manganous alkanoate and metallic copper. The metallic copper is then oxidized with oxygen to copper in the cupric form, which reacts with the organic saturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acid present to produce cupric alkanoate. The mixtures of cupric and manganous alkanoates obtained can be used as oxidation catalysts, and in fact may be recycled to the reaction sphere in which the C6 -C9 saturated aliphatic aldehydes are oxidized to the corresponding monocarboxylic acids for use as catalysts therein.