Abstract: Methylolalkanal of the formula II (R=CH2OH, C1-C22-alkyl, aryl or C6-C22-aralkyl) is prepared spe-wise by a) reacting a C2-C24-aldehyde with formaldehyde in the presence of a tertiary amine, b) separating the reaction mixture i) into a bottom fraction comprising the compound of formula II and an incompletely methylolated compound of the formula III and a distillate stream comprising unconverted or partially converted starting materials, or ii) into an aqueous phase and an organic phase, and recycling the distillate stream or the organic phase to a), and c) subjecting the bottom fraction or the aqueous phase i) to a catalytic or thermal reaction to convert the compound of formula III to the compound of formula II and to a corresponding methylene compound of formula IV (R′=H or R) and ii) separating the reaction product into an overhead stream comprising the compound of formula IV and unconverted formaldehyde which is recycled to a

Abstract: A process for dehydrogenating 1,4-butanediol to .gamma.-butyrolactone in the gas phase in the presence of a copper-containing catalyst, wherein the catalyst contains 4-40% by weight of copper and 0-5% by weight of Na.sub.2 O, based on the total weight of the catalyst, on a carrier consisting of 80-100% by weight of SiO.sub.2 and 0-20% by weight of CaO.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of polyalcohols comprises the stages:(a) Reaction of an alkanal or ketone with formaldehyde in aqueous solution in the presence of a tertiary amine, to form a formates containing polyalcohol product mixture,(b) removal of water, excess tertiary amine, excess formaldehyde(c) heating of remaining mixture from (b) with removal of further formaldehyde and tertiary amine with formation of the formates of the polyalcohol,(d) transfer of tertiary amine removed from stage (b) and/or from stage (c), to synthesis stage (a) and/or to the subsequent transesterification stage (e),(e) transesterification of the resulting formates of the polyalcohol from stage (c) with an alcohol of the formula ROH in the presence of a transesterification catalyst to give polyalcohols and formates of the formula ##STR1## where R is a hydrocarbon radical, preferably alkyl of 1-6, particularly preferably 1-2, carbon atoms, and(f) isolation of the polyalcohols.

Abstract: A process for dehydrogenating 1,4-butanediol to .gamma.-butyrolactone in the gas phase in the presence of a copper-containing catalyst, wherein the catalyst contains 4-40% by weight of copper and 0-5% by weight of Na.sub.2 O, based on the total weight of the catalyst, on a carrier consisting of 80-100% by weight of SiO.sub.2 and 0-20% by weight of CaO.

Abstract: 1,6-Hexanediol is prepared bya) Reacting epoxybutadiene in the presence of a metathesis catalyst with elimination of ethene to give bisepoxyhexatrienes of the formulae Ia and Ib ##STR1## and b) hydrogenating these bisepoxyhexatrienes with hydrogen to give 1,6-hexanediol.

Abstract: Polymeric polyamines obtainable by reacting linear, alternating carbon monoxide/1-alkene copolymers with ammonia or amines of the formula (I)R--NH.sub.2 (I)where R is --NH.sub.2, --OH, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 -alkyl, C.sub.6 -C.sub.20 -aryl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.20 -arylalkyl, C.sub.7 -C.sub.20 -alkylaryl or an organosilicon radical having 3 to 30 carbon atoms,or with a reagent which releases ammonia or the amine (I), and subsequent hydrogenation.

Abstract: N-Substituted cyclic amines are prepared by reacting diols with primary amines over a copper-containing catalyst which is obtainable by impregnation of an inert support with an aqueous solution of an ammine complex of a readily thermally decomposable copper compound and subsequent drying and calcination and contains from 5 to 50% by weight of copper, calculated as CuO.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing D,L-aspartic acid by beating aqueous solutions of ammonium salts of the maleic acid. The molar ratio of maleic acid to ammonia ranges from 1:1 to 1:50. The process is carried out at temperatures from 60.degree. to 250.degree. C. and pressures of at least 1 bar. The pressure applied during the reaction is adjusted to ensure that the reaction mixture is almost completely present in liquid phase. Excess ammonia is removed and the reaction solution is acidified so as to release D,L-aspartic acid, which is then isolated.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of lactates by fermentation of mixtures containing sugars, conversion of the lactic acid obtained during fermentation to its salts, followed by esterification, in whicha) there is added to the fermentation liquor an alkaline earth metal carbonate or bicarbonate so as to neutralize the resultant lactic acid to a degree of at least 90 mol %,b) the resulting fermentation liquor is adjusted to pH 7 to 13 by the addition of NH.sub.3 and CO.sub.2 and the resultant precipitates are separated, andc) the resulting, purified ammonium lactate solution is esterified with an alcohol.