Process for preparing natural benzaldehyde and acetaldehyde natural benzaldehyde and acetaldehyde compositions, products produced thereby and organoleptic utilities therefor

A composition of matter containing a substantial quantity of natural benzaldehyde and/or acetaldehyde produced according to the process comprising the step of carrying out a retro-aldol reaction on naturally occurring cinnamaldehyde in the presence of base, a natural or food grade nonionic emulsifier and an inert solvent selected from the group consisting or water and mixtures of water and C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkanols and in the absence of any other reagents according to the reaction:

• ##STR104## and simultaneously or subsequently steam distilling the reaction product from the reaction mass, the reaction being carried out in the presence of a nonionic sorbitan derivative emulsifier selected from the group consisting of compositions defined according to the structures:
• ##STR105## (iii) mixtures of materials having the structures:
• ##STR106## and (iv) mixtures of materials having the structures:
• ##STR107## wherein R represents a fatty acid moiety selected from the group consisting of laurate, palmitate, stearate, oleate and tallate;
• wherein R' represents a fatty acid moiety selected from the group consisting of laurate, palmitate, stearate, oleate and tallate;
• wherein one, two, three or four of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 represents the same or different laurate, palmitate, stearate, oleate or tallate and the other of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 represents hydrogen;
• and
• wherein one, two, three or four of R.sub.1 ', R.sub.2 ', R.sub.3 ' and R.sub.4 ' represents the same or different laurate, palmitate, stearate, oleate or tallate;
• and
• wherein W+X+Y+Z is in the range of from 4 up to 80, and
• wherein the reaction is carried out at from about 0.2 up to about 10 atmospheres;
• at a temperature of from about 40.degree. C. up to about 150.degree. C. and for a period of time of from about 5 hours up to about 80 hours.