The present invention discloses processes for producing normal alpha olefins, such as 1-hexene, 1-octene, 1-decene, and 1-dodecene in a multistep synthesis scheme from another normal alpha olefin. Also disclosed are reactions for converting aldehydes, primary alcohols, and terminal vicinal diols into normal alpha olefins.

The present invention discloses processes for producing normal alpha olefins, such as 1-hexene, 1-octene, 1-decene, and 1-dodecene in a multistep synthesis scheme from another normal alpha olefin. Also disclosed are reactions for converting aldehydes, primary alcohols, and terminal vicinal diols into normal alpha olefins.

Catalyst compositions for the conversion of aldehyde compounds and primary alcohol compounds to olefins are disclosed herein. Reactions include oxidative dehydroxymethylation processes and oxidative dehydroformylation methods, which are beneficially conducted in the presence of a sacrificial acceptor of H.sub.2 gas, such as N,N-dimethylacrylamide.

Catalyst compositions for the conversion of aldehyde compounds and primary alcohol compounds to olefins are disclosed herein. Reactions include oxidative dehydroxymethylation processes and oxidative dehydroformylation methods, which are beneficially conducted in the presence of a sacrificial acceptor of H.sub.2 gas, such as N,N-dimethylacrylamide.