Oxoalcohols are a group of organic compounds that are widely used in the production of plastics, coatings, and other industrial products. They are produced by the reaction of olefins, such as propylene or butylene, with synthesis gas (a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen) in the presence of a catalyst. By adding the synthesis gas to an olefin an aldehyde is obtained using the hydroformylation reaction and subsquently the aldehyde is hydrogenated to obtain the alcohol. An intermediate step of adding two aldehydes together to obtain a larger aldehyde (the aldol condensation reaction) can precede the hydrogenation. Long chain oxo-alcohols are often prepared using alpha-olefins from the Shell higher olefin process, to give secondary alcohols such as isodecyl alcohol. In general, the production of oxoalcohols is a complex process that involves several steps, including the reaction of olefins with synthesis gas, the separation and purification of the resulting oxoalcohol product, and the recycling of unreacted materials. The process requires careful control of temperature, pressure, and other variables to ensure high yields and product quality.