Alkaline-earth hydroxides, reactions formaldehyde with

Alkali and Alkaline-earth Hydroxides. In the field of fonnaldehyde diemistiy, alkalies are chiefly of importance as reaction catalysts. Since the utility of alkalies in this connection has already been pointed out, the subject need only be revieAved biiefly in this place. When pure formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde, alpha-polyoxymethyiene, or any of the polyoxA methylene glycols are treated with alkalies in aqueous systems the foUoAA ing reactions ai e catalyjsed ... 

Further studies of the formose reaction have been reported. Alkaline-earth metal hydroxides initiated zero-order reactions at intermediate conversions of formaldehyde, and the formation of glyceraldehyde or tetroses and pentoses, etc., from formaldehyde in the presence of calcium hydroxide depended on whether or not glycolaldehyde was present. Self-condensation of formaldehyde in the presence of alkaline-earth metal hydroxides has also been studied in the absence and in the presence of a co-catalyst such as D-glucose and in the presence of glycolaldehyde. Self-condensation of formaldehyde in the presence of lead(ii) oxide appears to involve a soluble complex in which the lead atom co-ordinates with the carbonyl oxygen atom of formaldehyde. " The catalytic functions of calcium ion species in a homogeneous formose reaction and the distribution of products in a photochemical formose reaction have been investigated. 

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