Catalytic conversion of ethanol to a 1-butanol-containing reaction product using a thermally decomposed hydrotalcite catalyst

A process for making a 1-butanol-containing product, said process comprising:

• contacting a reactant comprising ethanol with a catalyst at a reaction temperature and pressure sufficient to produce said product, wherein said catalyst is derived from a hydrotalcite of the formula:
• (M2+1−xM3+x(OH)2)(An−x/n).yH2O
• wherein
• M2+ is divalent Mg, or a combination of divalent Mg and at least one divalent member selected from the group consisting of Zn, Ni, Pd, Pt, Co, Fe, and Cu;
• M3+ is trivalent Al, or a combination of trivalent Al and at least one trivalent member selected from the group consisting of Fe and Cr;
• x is 0.66 to 0.1;
• An− is CO32− with n=2 or OH− with n=1;
• and
• y is 0 to 4;
• wherein the hydrotalcite catalyst is partially decomposed.