<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-12-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001306830</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Celanese CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001314705</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Blackstone LR Associates (Cayman) IV Ltd.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THE BLACKSTONE GROUP,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>345 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10154</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001314267</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Blackstone Capital Partners (Cayman) Ltd 1</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THE BLACKSTONE GROUP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>345 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10154</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001314268</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Blackstone Capital Partners (Cayman) Ltd 2</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THE BLACKSTONE GROUP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>345 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10154</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001314269</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Blackstone Capital Partners (Cayman) Ltd 3</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THE BLACKSTONE GROUP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>345 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10154</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001070843</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PETERSON PETER G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THE BLACKSTONE GROUP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>345 PARK AVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10154</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001070844</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHWARZMAN STEPHEN A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THE BLACKSTONE GROUP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>345 PARK AVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10154</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-12-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3301021</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>18.0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>51167471</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-12-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>228935</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>18.0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3548611</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-12-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1794749</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>18.0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>27819502</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Blackstone Capital Partners (Cayman) Ltd. 1 (&quot;Cayman 1&quot;), Blackstone Capital Partners (Cayman) Ltd. 2 (&quot;Cayman 2&quot;) and
 Blackstone Capital Partners (Cayman) Ltd. 3 (&quot;Cayman 3&quot; and, collectively with Cayman 1 and Cayman 2, the &quot;Cayman
 Entities&quot;), respectively own 51,167,471, 3,548,611 and 27,819,502 shares of the Series A common stock reported as
 beneficially owned in the above table.  Blackstone Capital Partners (Cayman) IV L.P. (&quot;BCP IV&quot;) owns 100% of Cayman 1,
 Blackstone Family Investment Partnership (Cayman) IV-A L.P. (&quot;BFIP&quot;) and Blackstone Capital Partners (Cayman) IV-A L.P.
 (&quot;BCP IV-A&quot;) collectively own 100% of Cayman 2. Blackstone Chemical Coinvest Partners (Cayman) L.P. (&quot;BCCP&quot; and,
 collectively with BCP IV, BFIP and BCP IV-A, the &quot;Blackstone Funds&quot;) owns 100% of Cayman 3.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each of the Blackstone Funds may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares of Series A common stock held by the
 Cayman Entitites owned by such Blackstone Funds.  Blackstone Management Associates (Cayman) IV L.P. (&quot;BMA&quot;) is the general
 partner of each of the Blackstone Funds and, therefore, may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares of Series A
 common stock held by the Cayman Entities.  Blackstone LR Associates (Cayman) IV Ltd. (&quot;BLRA&quot;) is the general partner of BMA
 and may, therefore, be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares of Series A common stock held by the Cayman Entities.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Messrs. Peter G. Peterson and Stephen A. Schwarzman are directors and controlling persons of BLRA and, as such, may be deemed
 to share beneficial ownership of the shares of Series A common stock held by the Cayman Entities.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Due to the electronic system's limitation of 10 Reporting Persons per joint filing, this statement is being filed in
 duplicate.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Information with respect to each of the Reporting Persons is given solely by such Reporting Persons, and no Reporting Person
 has responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of information supplied by another Reporting Person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Pursuant to Rule 16a-1(a)(4) of the Exchange Act, each of the Reporting Persons, other than the Cayman Entities, herein
 states that this filing shall not be deemed an admission that he or it is the beneficial owner of any of the shares of
 Series A common stock covered by this Statement.  Each of BLRA, BMA, Messrs. Peter G. Peterson and Stephen A. Schwarzman
 disclaims beneficial ownership of the Series A common stock, except to the extent of its or his pecuniary interest in such
 shares of Series A common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Robert L. Friedman (see exhibit 99.1)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-12-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
