Improved process for the transformation of primary aliphatic alcohols into higher aliphatic alcohols

A process for obtaining higher aliphatic alcohols starting from aliphatic primary alcohols by condensation reactions is disclosed. Specifically, the process comprises a step in which an aliphatic primary alcohol is contacted in a 5 homogeneous phase with a catalyst mixture comprising a transition metal, a base and an additive; specifically, this additive can be selected from the classes of compounds of the isoquinolines N-oxide, quinolines N-oxide, pyridines N-oxide, benzoquinones, naphthoquinones, or TEMPO. In particular, the process can be carried out by contacting said aliphatic primary alcohol with a catalyst of a 10 recycled transition metal, with a freshly added base and with a recycled additive of the aforementioned type.