Abstract The hydroxyacetylpiperidines, their ethylene ketals, and the N-benzyl derivatives of these new piperidines have been synthesized. Methylolation of 2-(2-and 4-pyridyl)-1, 3- dioxolanes by heating with paraformaldehyde at 185 led to 2-hydroxymethyl-2-(2-and 4- pyridyl)-i, 3-dioxolanes (7, 8, respectively). 2-Hydroxymethyl-2-(3-pyridyl)-1, 3-dioxolane (13) was obtained by reaction of 2-bromomethyl-2-(3-pyridyl)-1, 3-dioxolane with aqueous ...