Dehydrogenation of alcohols

A process for the continuous liquid phase dehydrogenation of a primary or secondary alcohol which also contains a tertiary hydroxy group said alcohol possessing the following formula:

• ##EQU2## where R and R.sub.1 are independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, aralkyl and cycloalkyl, R.sub.2 , R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl and cycloalkyl, and n is an integer of from 0 to 10, to the corresponding aldehyde or ketone without loss of said tertiary hydroxy group, which comprises effecting said dehydrogenation at a temperature of from about 200.degree. to about 350.degree.C. under a vacuum of from about 40 to about 250 mm. Hg. in contact with a stirred suspension of an alcohol dehydrogenation catalyst comprising cupric oxide in a mineral oil having a normal boiling point above about 350.degree.C and an end boiling point within the range of from about 450.degree. to about 550.degree.C, and continuously recovering the aldehyde or ketone.