A catalytic method for the production of individual C 4C 6 α-olefins by dehydrating normal primary alcohols in the presence of calcium triphosphate containing caustic alkali has been developed. The yield of pentenes amounts to 88·5%. The purity of the pent-1-ene obtained is the same (98%) as that from the pyrolysis of amyl acetate. The yield of hexenes amounts to 80·6%, and their content of hex-l-ene to 97·6%. The catalyst has considerable stability and is readily regenerated.