The present invention provides a method of producing high-purity
hydroxypivalaldehyde and/or dimer thereof, including: reacting isobutyl
aldehyde with formaldehyde in a presence of a basic catalyst; distilling
a low boiling point component including unreacted isobutyl aldehyde to
obtain an aqueous solution; adding a diluent to the aqueous solution;
cooling the aqueous solution to crystallize the hydroxypivalaldehyde
and/or the dimer thereof; and subjecting the aqueous solution to a
solid-liquid separation, followed by washing with an organic solvent
and/or water, in which the diluent and a basic compound are added to the
aqueous solution containing the hydroxypivalaldehyde and/or the dimer
thereof obtained by distilling the low boiling point component off so
that a concentration of the hydroxypivalaldehyde and/or the dimer becomes
5 to 23% by mass, the concentration of formaldehyde becomes 0.2 to 2.5%
by mass, and a pH value becomes 5.0 or more, the solution is crystallized
at a temperature of 20 to 45.degree. C. and subjected to the solid-liquid
separation. In this method, handling of a high-viscosity slurry and
carrying out any complicated operation such as regeneration of an ion
exchange resin are not required, so the high-purity HPA and/or the dimer
thereof can be obtained in high yield with an energetically advantageous
manner.