Abstract: 1,2-Diols of the formula: ##STR1## where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 10 carbon atoms or such as alkyl substituted by a halogen, a hydroxy group, a phenyl group, a methoxy group, or an ethoxy group, a phenyl group or a furyl group or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together form an alkylene group of 2 to 7 carbon atoms are formed by hydrogenating a correspondingly substituted cyanohydrin in an aqueous medium first in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst and an acid at a temperature between -20.degree. and +25.degree. C. and a hydrogen pressure of less than 10 bar until per mole of cyanohydrin employed there is taken up one mole of hydrogen and then the hydrogenation continued to the end of the absorption of hydrogen in the presence of metallic nickel at a temperature between 30.degree. and 100.degree. C. and a hydrogen pressure between 10 and 150 bar.

Abstract: 4-aminobutyramide hydrochloride is produced by saponifying 4-(benzylamino)-or-4-(dibenzylamino)-butyronitrile to the corresponding substituted 4-aminobutyramide and subjecting this in the form of the hydrochloride in the presence of an inert solvent and a platinum metal catalyst to a hydrogenation treatment whereby the benzyl group or the two benzyl groups are split off.