Abstract: Polyhydric alcohols are prepared by the aldol condensation of an aldehyde having 1 to 3 hydrogens on the alpha-carbon atom with formaldehyde in the presence of sodium carbonate and the subsequent crossed Cannizzaro reaction wherein the aldol condensation product is reacted with additional formaldehyde and sodium carbonate to form a polyhydric alcohol.

Abstract: Trimethylolpropane prepared in alkali solution by the condensation of n-butyraldehyde and formaldehyde is purified by extraction of the trimethylolpropane from the process effluent with a first solvent and the subsequent addition of a second solvent to the extract to further reduce the content of water and alkali salts. The first solvent may be recovered from the trimethylolpropane containing mixture by a simple distillation. The remaining mixture of trimethylolpropane and the second solvent may be separated by settling and decanting. In a preferred embodiment isobutanol is the first solvent and xylene is the second solvent.

Abstract: Para-dioxane esters of the formula ##SPC1##Wherein X is an acrylic or cyclic aliphatic or aromatic moiety having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms are produced by esterification of 1,4-dioxanemethanol with a dicarboxylic acid of 3 to 10 carbon atoms or a corresponding acid anhydride. The novel esters are useful as plasticizers, viscosity improvers, and in waxes and polishes.

Abstract: A process for recovery of neopentyl glycol from a waste stream comprising neopentyl glycol and water, wherein said waste stream is contacted with isobutyraldehyde and subsequently separated into an organic stream comprising neopentyl glycol and isobutyraldehyde and an aqueous stream essentially free of neopentyl glycol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of 2,2-disubstituted propiolactones from isoanhydrides and formaldehyde, as shown in the following equation: ##SPC1##Wherein R and R.sup.1 individually may be a straight- or branched-chain alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms. The reaction is conducted at a temperature of from about 190.degree.C. to about 400.degree.C. in the presence of a metal oxide-silica gel complex which results from heating the calcined residue of a salt of a metal selected from the group consisting of Ta, Ti, Nb and Zr supported upon a silica gel in the presence of nitrogen and steam at a temperature of from about 650.degree.C. to about 1000.degree.C.