Process for the reaction of piperazine, and derivatives thereof, with glyoxal, and derivatives thereof

A process for preparing 1,2-bis (piperazinyl) ethanediol and 2-hydroxy-1-(1-piperazinyl) ethanone or derivative products thereof wherein alkyl, non-heterocyclic aryl, or non-heterocyclic aralkyl groups are substituted for one of the hydrogen moieties on each carbon atom which comprises:

• reacting from 0.5 to 10 moles of:
• ##STR6## where R is hydrogen;
• C.sub.1 of C.sub.10 alkyl;
• non-heterocyclic aryl or non-heterocyclic aralkyl;
• and
• R' is hydrogen or C.sub.1 to C.sub.20 alkyl;
• either with no solvent or in a solvent, but without sodium carbonate or bicarbonate, with 1.0 mole of:
• ##STR7## where R" is hydrogen or C.sub.1 of C.sub.4 alkyl to produce 1,2-bis(piperazinyl) ethanediol or 2-hydroxy-1-(1-piperazinyl) ethanone or derivative products thereof where alkyl, nonheterocyclic aryl, or non-heterocyclic aralkyl groups are substituted for the hydrogen moieties.