Abstract: The invention is a process for the preparation of 2-oxazolidinones which comprises contacting a 2-hydroxyalkyl carbamate with an alkylene oxide or alkylene carbonate in the presence of a catalytic amount of a quaternary ammonium halide, quaternary phosphonium halide, a group I metal carbonate, hydroxide, oxide or halide, or a group II metal carbonate, hydroxide, oxide or halide under conditions such that a 2-oxazolidinone is prepared.

Abstract: The use of a group of diester compounds that are particularly effective as plasticizers in polyvinylchloride-resin formulations and articles made therefrom. These compounds are the diesters of alkanedicarboxylic acids and alkanolethers. They are prepared by the direct esterification reaction of dicarboxylic acids with alkanolethers or by the trans esterification reaction of diesters with the corresponding alkanolethers.

Abstract: Propylene glycol and dipropylene glycol diesters are prepared by reacting dichloropropyl ethers with a carboxylic acid salt, e.g., sodium acetate, and the corresponding carboxlyic acid, e.g., acetic acid. The by-product sodium chloride is insoluble in the acetic acid and easily separated from the reaction mixture. The diesters can be hydrolyzed to their respective glycols.

Abstract: A method for the formation of monoalkyleneglycols, monoalkanolamines and alkylenediamines, comprising the steps of: (a) reacting ammonia or ammonium carbonate with an alkylenecarbonate to form a carbamate, (b) heating the carbamate to form a monoalkyleneglycol, an alkyleneurea and a 2-oxazolidinone, (c) further reacting the alkyleneurea and the 2-oxazolidinone with ammonium hydroxide to form ammonia or ammonium carbonate, a monoalkanolamine, and an alkylenediamine, (d) separating the ammonia or ammonium carbonate, the monoalkyleneglycol, the alkylenediamine, and the monoalkanolamine, and (e) recycling the ammonia or ammonium carbonate to reaction step (a).