Abstract: Bis-betaines of the formula ##STR1## in which R denotes a saturated or an olefinically unsaturated hydrocarbon radical which has 1 to 3 double bonds and 8 to 22 carbon atoms,n.sup.1 and n.sup.2 represent an integer from 2 to 3, and n.sup.1 and n.sup.2 can be identical or different,m.sup.1 and m.sup.2 represent an integer from 1 to 4, and m.sup.1 and m.sup.2 can be identical or different, anda, b, c and d, which are identical or different, each is a number from 1 to 5, but the sum (a+b+c+d) should be at most 10.The compounds are prepared from primary amines of the formula RNH.sub.2, by dicyanoalkylation, hydrogenation, ethoxylation and reaction with alkali metal salts of .omega.-halogenocarboxylic acids. They are suitable for formluating cosmetic and industrial cleaning agents.

Abstract: An improved process for the preparation of a polyhydric phenol by hydroxylation of a phenol with a peroxidic hydroxylating agent, is disclosed. The improvement resides in that before the hydroxylation, all or some of the mixture to be hydroxylated is treated with a cation exchanger.

Abstract: Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, an intermediate of organic synthesis, in ystalline form is made by formylation followed by hydrogenation. Nitromethane and formaldehyde in a molar ratio on the order of 1:3 are reacted in a concentrated alcohol medium made up of a 2 to 5% mixture of methylene chloride in methanol, in the presence of 1 to 10 milliequivalents per mole of nitromethane of a solid base catalyst selected from sodium or potassium, with agitation for a period between 3 and 36 hours at a temperature below 50.degree. C.

Abstract: A novel process for preparing 2-fluoro-2-nitro-3-propanediol by reacting diethyl fluoronitromalonate with formaldehyde in the presence of an alkali metal hydroxide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel process for producing the threo- and erythro-isomers of 1-phenyl-2-nitro-1,3-propanediol through the aldol-type alkaline condensation of benzaldehyde and nitroethanol, wherein the reaction mixture is acidified and, if desired, the isomers are separated from the obtained isomer mixture and the obtained isomers are transformed into each other through epimerization, characterized in that the condensation and, if desired, also the epimerization are carried out in the presence of catalytical amounts of an alkaline hydroxide.The process according to the invention makes it possible to produce 1-phenyl-2-nitro-1,3-propanediol, an intermediate of the antibiotic chloramphenicol, in high yields, and in an extremely advantageous way which can be carried out simply and economically even on an industrial scale.