Process for the production of low molecular weight polyhydroxyl compounds
AssigneeBayer Aktiengesellschaft
InventorsIngo Stemmler, Hanns P. Muller, Kuno Wagner
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Abstract
The instant invention relates to an improved process for the production of formose from formaldehyde. The improvement resides in using relatively small quanities of basic lead compounds as catalysts for the condensation reaction of the formaldehyde and, at the same time, for controlling the pH-value. By following this technique, organic or inorganic bases which, hitherto, have normally been used for this purpose are no longer needed.
Claims7
A process for the production of low molecular weight polyhydroxyl compounds comprising autocondensing formaldehyde hydrate in the presence of soluble or substantially insoluble compounds of divalent lead as catalyst, said divalent lead being capable of forming saturated aqueous solutions or suspensions in desalted, CO.sub.2 -free water having a pH value of more than 4.5 said process further characterized in that the condensation reaction is carried out in the presence of
- (a) a quantity of catalyst which corresponds to from 0.1 to 1 gram equivalent of lead per kg of formaldehyde,
- (b) more than 15% by weight (based on formaldehyde) of compounds capable of enediol formation as co-catalyst,
- in the absence of further organic or inorganic bases.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.