Neopentyl glycol is an organic chemical compound with the IUPAC designation 2,2-dimethylpropane-1,3-diol.

It also has other names,such as:1,3-Propanediol, 2,2-dimethyl-; Dimethylolpropane; Neopentanediol; Neopentylene glycol; 2,2-Dimethyl-1,3-propanediol; Dimethyltrimethylene glycol; Hydroxypivalyl alcohol; NPG; Neol; 1,3-Dihydroxy-2,2-dimethylpropane; 2,2-Dimethyl-1,3-dihydroxypropane; 2,2-Dimethylpropane-1,3-diol; NPG Glycol; 2,2-Dimethyltrimethylene glycol; NSC 55836.

It is used to create plasticizers, paints, lubricants, and polyesters. It improves the product's resistance to heat, light, and water when employed in the production of polyesters. Synthetic lubricating esters with lower oxidation or hydrolysis potential than natural esters can be created by esterifying reactions with fatty or carboxylic acids.

Neopentyl glycol has a wide range of functions. It is mainly used in the production of unsaturated resin, oil-free alkyd resin,polyurethane foam and elastomer plasticizers, surfactants,insulating materials, printing ink, polymerization inhibitors, synthetic aviation lubricants, and oil additives.

Formaldehyde and isobutyraldehyde undergo an aldol reaction to produce neopentyl glycol in an industrial setting. As a result, hydroxypivaldehyde is produced as an intermediate, which may then be used to produce neopentyl glycol using either a Cannizzaro reaction with extra formaldehyde or a hydrogenation process utilizing palladium on carbon.
In the synthesis of gestodene, for instance, it serves as a protective group for ketones.Neopentyl glycol and 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol are combined to produce CGP-7930.The Suzuki reaction takes advantage of neopentyl glycol's organoboronic acid esters.

The precursor utilized to create neopentyl glycol diglycidyl ether is neopentyl glycol. Using a Lewis acid catalyst, it reacts with epichlorohydrin to produce the intermediate halohydrin, which is then further reacted with sodium hydroxide to produce the end product by dehydrochlorinating it.
It has been noted that neopentyl glycol plastic crystals display a cooling effect known as a colossal barocaloric effect (CBCE), which is brought on by pressure-induced phase transitions. Near room temperature, the measured entropy changes are 389 joules per kilogram per kelvin. Future solid-state refrigeration technologies are anticipated to find great utility in this CBCE phenomenon.

The following are some of neopentyl glycol's key characteristics: excellent heat stability for low resin color, excellent weathering Good chemical and stain resistance, as well as good resistance to humidity; a good hardness/flexibility balance,Outstanding weathering; rapid reactivity during esterification, and excellent powder flow and fluidization properties.

The industry standard for glycol used in high-quality polyester resins for applications such as industrial coatings and fiberglass-reinforced plastics is Eastman NPG glycol. The majority of formulations for polyester resin employ NPG as the only glycol component, or it is combined with a modifying glycol to get the necessary characteristics.

The main elements of polyester powder coating resins are NPG and Eastman PTA (purified terephthalic acid). The coil coatings for appliances and items for outside applications need to have the overall toughness, stain and detergent resistance, and outdoor weathering performance that Eastman NPG provides. Gel coatings produced from NPG and Eastman PIA (purified isophthalic acid) that include unsaturated polyesters offer good weatherability and water and stain resistance.

Polyester polyols for polyurethane coatings for the automotive, industrial maintenance, transportation, and aerospace industries also employ Eastman NPG.

Under special federal food additive laws, neopentyl glycol may be used legally in the United States as a reactant for coatings and other products designed for use in contact with foods.