Abstract: A method for the production of a salt of carboxylic acid by catalytic dehydrogenation effected by reacting the corresponding primary alcohol in aqueous solution with an alkaline hydroxide in the present of a copper catalyst, in which, before the catalytic dehydrogenation, the mass of the reagents comprising the said aqueous solution of a primary alcohol is subjected to a deoxygenation stage in order to remove or reduce the level of dissolved molecular oxygen. The deoxygenation stage is preferably carried out by bubbling an inert gas or by adding a reducing agent.