Abstract: Di- and other poly-sulfosuccinate esters of di- and other poly-hydroxyl aromatic propoxylated compounds in which, by way of illustration, both of the hydroxyl groups of a bisphenol, for instance, Bisphenol A, are etherified with a propylene oxide .alpha.-epoxide, the free hydroxyl groups of the resulting propoxylated bisphenol then being esterified with a sufficient amount of maleic anhydride whereby the resulting intermediate acid ester compound comprises di- and/or poly-maleic acid esters having free carboxyl groups which are then esterified with propylene oxide .alpha.-epoxide to produce a further intermediate having a free hydroxyl group at each of its terminal ends; and after which said last-mentioned intermediate is reacted to introduce at least two sulfosuccinated groups into the final compound, for instance, by reaction with aqueous bisulfite.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of isethionic acid by treating an alkali metal isethionate with hydrochloric acid to form isethionic acid and a chloride salt. The chloride salt is removed so as to provide at least a 50% by weight aqueous solution of the isethionic acid after removal of excess hydrochloric acid, which solution may be further reacted with a polyvalent metal oxide, hydroxide or amine to form the corresponding heavy metal isethionate. Zinc isethionate, for instance, is useful as a catalyst for making acyl isethionates used in making soap bars.

Abstract: Unsymmetrical sulfosuccinate diesters in which one carboxyl group of the sulfosuccinate is esterified with an alcohol, for instance, a C.sub.8 -C.sub.12 aliphatic monohydric alcohol such as octyl or dodecyl alcohol, or with an ethoxylated or propoxylated alkyl phenol, and in which the other carboxyl group is esterified by reaction with ethylene oxide, and method of preparation of such diesters. The said diesters have utility as surfactants, such as detergents and emulsifiers.

Abstract: Sulfosuccinate diesters in which one carboxyl group of the sulfosuccinate is esterified with an ethoxylated or propoxylated non-tertiary monoamine, for instance, a C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 fatty amine, ethoxylated with 3 or 4 moles of ethylene oxide, to form a hydroxyl-containing tertiary amine, and in which the other carboxyl group of the sulfosuccinate is esterified with an .alpha.-monoepoxide such as propylene oxide, or higher .alpha.-monoepoxides, and method of preparation of such sulfosuccinate diesters. The said sulfosuccinate diesters have utility as surfactants, such as detergents and emulsifiers.

Abstract: Sulfosuccinate ester-amides in which one carboxyl group of the sulfosuccinate is amidified with an aliphatic non-tertiary amine, for instance, a C.sub.8 -C.sub.12 aliphatic amine such as octyl or dodecyl amine, and in which the other carboxyl group of the sulfosuccinate is esterified by reaction with an .alpha.-monoepoxide such as propylene oxide, or higher .alpha.-monoepoxides, and method of preparation of such sulfosuccinate ester-amides. The said sulfosuccinate ester-amides have utility as surfactants, such as detergents and emulsifiers.

Abstract: Unsymmetrical sulfosuccinate diesters in which one carboxyl group of the sulfosuccinate is esterified with an alcohol, for instance, a C.sub.8 -C.sub.12 aliphatic monohydric such as octyl or dodecyl alcohol, or with an ethoxylated or propoxylated alkyl phenol, and in which the other carboxyl group is esterified by reaction with an .alpha.-monoepoxide such as propylene oxide, or higher .alpha.-epoxides. The said diesters have utility as surfactants, such as detergents and emulsifiers.

Abstract: In the preparation of normally liquid polyether polyols for use in the production of polyurethane foams, alkaline or basic catalysts, such as potassium hydroxide, which are employed in the process of preparing said polyether polyols, are neutralized with (a) oleic acid or with (b) oleic acid and higher molecular weight alkylbenzene or alkyltoluene sulfonic acids such as dodecylbenzene sulfonic acids and dodecyltoluene sulfonic acids, or such alkylnaphthalene sulfonic acids as butyl- or amylnaphthalene sulfonic acids, which results in a number of advantages, including reducing or eliminating purification procedures, producing polyether polyol compositions which have improved solubility, particularly in higher molecular weight polyols or polyol ethers and also in certain ingredients used in the polyurethane foam formulations in which said specially neutralized polyether polyols are used, and reducing catalyst costs in the process of producing polyurethane foams from said polyether polyol compositions.