A curable 
polyester resin composition containing residues of:a) polyhydroxyl compounds that include:(i) 2,2,4,4-tetraalkylcyclobutane-1,3-
diol (TACD) compounds, and(ii) polyhydroxyl compounds other than TACD, and(b) polycarboxylic acid compounds that include:(i) polycarboxylic acid compounds, a derivative of polycarboxylic acid compound other than (bii), or a combination thereof, and(ii) a polycarboxylic anhydride compound;wherein the curable 
polyester resin has an acid number 
ranging from about 20 to about 120 mg KOH / g, a hydroxyl number 
ranging from greater than 0 to about 100 mg KOH / g, and an acid number:hydroxyl (AN:OH) number ratio of at least 0.5:1. The curable 
polyester resin can be dispersed in water or a 
solvent and is suitable for waterborne or solventborne 
coating compositions and 
powder coating applications. Phenolic based crosslinking 
coating compositions that contain these curable polyester resins are curable at elevated temperatures.