2-Ethylhexanal is the organic compound with the formula . A colorless liquid, it is produced on a large scale industrially as a precursor to 2-ethylhexanoic acid and 2-ethylhexanol, both used as precursors to plasticizers. 2-Ethylhexanal is synthesized by condensation of two equivalents of butyraldehyde followed by hydrogenation of the intermediate 2-ethylhexenal.[1] The compound is chiral, but is mainly used as a racemic mixture.