PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT POLYHYDROXYL COMPOUNDS

摘要

A process is disclosed for preparing mixtures of low molecular weight polyhydroxyl compounds and hydroxyaldehydes and hydroxyketones by condensing formaldehyde hydrate with itself in the presence of (I) as catalyst, a soluble or insoluble compound of a metal of the 2nd - 4th main or the 1st-8th sub-group of the Period System of Elements, optionally bound to a high molecular weight carrier, and (II) a cocatalyst prepared by partial oxidation of a divalent or higher valent alcohol containing at least 2 adjacent hydroxyl groups and having a molecular weight of between 62 and 242 or of a mixture of such alcohols. The pH of the reaction mixture is held at 6.0 to 9.0 until 5 - 40% conversion has occurred and is then lowered to between 4.5 and 8.0(1 to 2 pH units lower). The reaction is stopped by inactivating the catalyst.