USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Dennis W Karle

Kazimiera J Paciorek

Reinhold H Kratzer

Bis-benzoins of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is meta-phenylene or para-phenylene are prepared by first conting aldehydes of the formula ##STR2## with sodium bisulfite to form bisulfite addition products of the formula ##STR3## THEN CONTACTING THE BISULFITE ADDITION PRODUCTS WITH EITHER POTASSIUM CYANIDE OR SODIUM CYANIDE TO FORM CYANOHYDRINS OF THE FORMULA ##STR4## and finally contacting the cyanohydrins with benzaldehyde to form the bis-benzoins. The bis-benzoins can be oxidized to form the corresponding bis-benzils which are useful as starting materials for producing phenylated polyquinoxalines which in turn are useful as coatings for fibers, graphite precursors, films and laminating materials.

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Mission Viejo, CA, United States of America

Dennis W Karle