Abstract: Polyoxyalkylene compounds having at least four oxyalkylene units and one or two terminal hydroxyl groups are etherified by reacting same with organic primary chlorides or bromides in the presence of an aqueous, at least 30% by weight solution of sodium or potassium hydroxide to produce the corresponding etherified polyoxyalkylene derivatives. The molar ratio of the organohalide to the hydroxyl group(s) of the polyoxyalkylene compound is at least 1.2, and the molar ratio of the alkali metal hydroxide to such hydroxyl group(s) is at least 1.

Abstract: A method for racemization of optically active amines which comprises contacting an optically active amine of the formula: ##STR1## wherein C* is an asymmetric carbon atom, R.sub.1 is alkyl, aralkyl or aryl and R.sub.2 is aryl or alkoxycarbonyl, the aryl or aralkyl moiety bearing optionally one or more alkyl or alkoxy groups on the aromatic ring, provided that R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are always different from each other, with a catalyst comprising an alkali metal and a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon until a sufficient amount of the optically active amine is racemized.