Abstract: There is disclosed a process for the preparation of 1-(2-hydroxyethyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinol from triacetoneamine, which comprises first reducing triacetoneamine in water and/or a polar organic solvent by catalytic hydrogenation to 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinol, and adding a catalytic amount of acid to the resultant solution, without isolation of the intermediate, after optional concentration of the solution by distillation, and subsequently reacting the 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinol with ethylene oxide.1-(2-Hydroxyethyl)-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinol is a useful light and heat stabilizer for plastics and is, in addition, a valuable intermediate for the synthesis of further light stabilizer additives.

Abstract: There is described a continuous process for producing 1,2-alkanediols of the formula ##STR1## in which R is an alkyl group having 3-6 carbon atoms, by reaction of a 1-alkene of the formulaR--CH.dbd.CH.sub.2in which R is as defined above, with formic acid and hydrogen peroxide, and subsequent saponification of the formed alkanediol monoformate, which process is performed in several consecutive reaction stages.The 1,2-alkanediols of the above formula obtainable by the process are intermediates for the production of pesticides.