Preparation of 2,2-Dimethylolbutyric Acid

2,2-Dimethylolbutyric acid was prepared from formaldehyde and butyraldehyde through condensation and oxidation reactions.The optimum conditions of condensation reaction were temperature 20 ℃,reaction time 1 h and mole ratio of formaldehyde to butyraldehyde 1.8 with mixed solution of w(Na 2CO 3)=3.0% and w(NaOH)=2.0% as catalyst,the dosage of which was 1.5% of the feedstock.Through neutralization by adding formic acid, 2,2-dimethylolbutyraldehyde was purified and its mass content reached 91.0%.The optimum conditions of oxidation reaction were temperature 60 ℃,reaction time 6 h and mole ratio of hydrogen peroxide to 2,2-dimethylolbutyraldehyde 1.2.The yield was 81.1%(based on butyraldehyde) with product purity of 98%.