The invention herein disclosed comprises the use of oxazolidines, nitroalcohols, nitroamines, aminonitroalcohols, imines, hexahydropyimidines, nitrones, hydroxylamines, nitro-olefins and nitroacetals to serve as hardeners and/or as catalysts for curing phenolic resins. The hardeners and catalysts described in the invention can be applied in any application where phenolic resins are used, including but not limited to adhesives, molding, coatings, pultrusion, prepregs, electronics, composites, fire resistant, and flame-retardant end uses.