Abstract: A process is provided for the preparation of hydroxy benzene carboxaldehydes having the formula: ##STR1## wherein: R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxy, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkoxyalkyl, fluoroalkyl, and hydroxyalkyl oxyalkylene having from one to about twenty carbon atoms; hydroxyalkyl having at least two to about twenty carbon atoms; hydroxy; aldehyde CHO; and halogen;n.sub.1, n.sub.2 and n.sub.3 are zero or 1; and at least one of n.sub.1, n.sub.2 and n.sub.3 is 1; andx is zero, 1, 2, 3 or 4, which comprises:(1) condensing with a formaldehyde compound a phenol having the formula: ##STR2## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyalkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkoxyalkyl, fluoroalkyl, and hydroxyalkyl oxyalkylene having from one to about twenty carbon atoms; hydroxy; and halogen; andx is zero, 1, 2, 3 or 4,and unsubstituted in at least one ortho or para position in an aqueous reaction medium comprising phenol:HCHO in a molar ratio within the range from about 1:0.

Abstract: A process is provided for preparing methyl heptenone from a ketone mixture comprising isomers of prenyl mesityl oxide; the mixture is subjected to hydrolytic cracking with water in the presence of an amine catalyst, and, optionally, an inorganic alkali, at an elevated temperature, and methyl heptenone is recovered.