PROCEDIMENTO PER LA PRODUZIONE DIMETILOL CHETONI

Methylol ketones and polymethylol ketones with 1-6 methylol radicals on the alpha C atoms of the ketone are prepd. by reacting (a) a ketone with 1-6 H atoms on the alpha C atoms, with (b) HCHO or a cpd. providing HCHO, in an alkaline medium with pH less than about 10, in presence of (c) a substd. amine as catalyst. Prodn. of a polymer by reaction of a methylolketone with a polymerisable (in)organic cpd. (I) which can react with a cpd. carrying an alcoholic H atom, is claimed. Tri- and tetra-methylol ketones (claimed) can be obtd., in addn. to the mono- and di-substd. derivs. There is little or no formation of by-prods. The yield is not less than 95% w.r.t. HCHO consumed. Uses of the (poly)methylol ketones include: (1) as copolymerisable, reactive, diluents for HCHO-phenolic resins, aminoplasts, quinone-HCHO resins, nylon, polyesters and polyvinyl alcohol, (2) as cross-linking (co)reagents for epoxy resins, (3) as reactive polyols, esp. for forming, with isocyanates, urethane coatings, adhesives and foams, (4) formation of polyesters, as coatings, moulding compsns., adhesives, and foams, (5) as replacements for polyols, e.g. in alkyds, and (6) as flame-proofing agents, with cpds. contg. P, S halogens.