Method for producing alkyne diols

In a process for preparing alkynediols by reacting ketones with acetylenic hydrocarbons selected from the group consisting of acetylene and alkynemonool in an organic solvent in the presence of a base comprising potassium alkoxides of primary and/or secondary alcohols to form adducts of alkynemonools and/or alkynediols and said base which precipitate from the reaction mixture, the improvement which comprises, using as acetylenic hydrocarbon acetylene in the ratio of ketone to acetylene from 1.9 to 2.1:1 and the ratio of potassium alkoxide to ketone is within the range from 0.9 to 2.1:1 and using as acetylenic hydrocarbon alkynemonool in the ratio of alkynemonool to ketone from 1:0.8 to 1.2 and the ratio of potassium alkoxide to ketone is within the range from 1.5 to 2.2:1, so as to produce gel like adducts having a spherical surface, whereby the reaction mixture remains stirrable during the entire reaction.