oxo process

noun

variants or oxo reaction

1

: a process for synthesizing aldehydes (as propionaldehyde) by the addition of carbon monoxide and hydrogen under pressure to olefins (as ethylene) in the presence of a usually cobalt catalyst compare hydroformylation

2

: a process for synthesizing alcohols (as isooctyl alcohol) usually by producing aldehydes from olefins and hydrogenating the aldehydes to alcohols compare oxyl process

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