| abstract |
A process for the preparation of a propane-1,3-diol, disubstituted in the 2-position, which comprises contacting an ethanal disubstituted in the 2-position, which ethanal has the formula ##STR1## wherein R 1 and R 2 are identical or different and denote optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl or aryl radicals or an optionally substituted heterocyclic radical, or together denote an optionally substituted divalent hydrocarbon radical with formaldehyde in the presence of an acid ion exchanger and thereafter contacting the resultant reaction product with hydrogen under hydrogenation conditions. |