Butane diol (1,3) 3-mono (3'-hydroxy-butyrate) prepn. - by heating 3-hydroxy-butanals and use in prodn. of polyesters, polyurethanes, plastics and plasticisers

Butanediol-(1,3-3-mono-(3'-hydroxybutyrates) have formula R2-CH2-CHOH-CHR'-COO-CH(CH2R2)-CHR'-CH2OH (I) (where R' and R2 are opt. same and denote an aliphatic gp. or H). (I) are prepd. by reacting 3-hydroxy-butanols of formual R2-CH2-CHOH-CHR'-CHO (II) for >=2 hrs. at 40-150 (40-130) esp. 90-130 degrees C. (I) are starting materials for prepn. of polyesters, esp. those partic. stable to saponification, polyurethanes, plastics and plasticisers (I) react with fumaric acid or maleic anhydride for 8 hrs. at 180-200 degrees C to form polyesters which copolymerise with 30 wt. % styrene to non-saponifiable, water-repellant resins, suitable as swimming-pool lacquers, outdoor paints and weather-resistant wood-varnishes. (I) can be esterified, in 1:2 mol. ratio with (meth) acrylic acid to form bifunctional monomers for synthesis of radiation-hardenable lacquers, e.g. on wood, plastics, paper, metals, in combination with unsatd. polymers e.g. epoxides, polyesters, (I) can also form cross-linkable coating compsns.