Abstract: 2-H-2-Oxazolines are prepared by contacting in liquid phase a N-(.beta.-hydroxyalkyl)formamide with a small but catalytic amount of an inorganic zinc salt at elevated temperatures. Similarly, 2-substituted-2-oxazolines are prepared by contacting N-(2-hydroxyalkyl)carboxamides with a small but catalytic amount of an inorganic zinc salt. As an example, 2-H-2-oxazoline was prepared in approximately 72 percent yield by warming a mixture of N-(.beta.-hydroxyethyl)formamide with a catalytic amount of zinc chloride at a temperature of from 180.degree. C. to 185.degree. C./50 mm Hg for 2.2 hours. In this reaction, the desired oxazoline product was recovered as a codistillate with water during the course of the reaction.

Abstract: 2-Substituted-2-oxazolines are prepared by contacting N-(2-hydroxyalkyl)carboxamides with a small but catalytic amount of an organic zinc salt at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: A cyclodehydration reaction is described for preparing 2-oxazolines which comprises reacting in liquid phase (a) an N-(2-hydroxyalkyl)carboxamide with (b) a small but catalytic amount of an iron-containing compound. The reaction is normally conducted at elevated temperatures (e.g., 180.degree.-200.degree. C.) and under reduced pressure. Both 2-H- and 2-substituted-2-oxazolines are prepared by this process. For example, 2-H-2-oxazoline and 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline were prepared in 83.1 percent and 90.2 percent yields, respectively, by contacting the appropriate N-(2-hydroxyethyl)carboxamide with ferrous chloride tetrahydrate at temperatures of approximately 180.degree.-200.degree. C./50 mm Hg. Under these conditions, the oxazoline product and water were codistilled from the reaction mixture essentially as fast as they were formed.

Abstract: The title compounds are of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is a chemical bond, oxygen, sulfur, alkylene or alkylidene; W is hydrogen or a (--CR.sub.1 R.sub.2 --CR.sub.3 R.sub.4 --NHR.sub.5) group with the proviso that at least two W groups are (--CH.sub.1 R.sub.2 --CR.sub.3 R.sub.4 --NHR.sub.5) groups; wherein R.sub.1 -R.sub.4 are each independently hydrogen, lower alkyl or hydroxy-substituted lower alkyl; R.sub.5 is hydrogen or a ##STR2## group, wherein R.sub.6 is hydrogen, hydrocarbyl or inertly substituted hydrocarbyl; X, Y and Z are each independently inert substituents; m and p are each independently integers of from zero to four, inclusive; n is an integer of from zero to three, inclusive; q is a number of from zero to about ten; and M is alkylene or alkylidene. They are conveniently prepared by reacting a 2-oxazoline of the formula: ##STR3## with a polyhydric polyphenol of the formula: ##STR4## in the presence of certain metal salt catalysts (e.g. zinc acetate).

Abstract: The title compounds are prepared by:Step 1: Reacting by contacting in liquid phase (a) an aliphatic mercaptan with (b) a 2-oxazoline in the presence of (c) a small but sufficient amount of at least one transition metal salt to catalyze the reaction between (a) and (b), thereby forming an alkanamidoethyl sulfide derivative of the aliphatic mercaptan, andStep 2: Contacting the alkanamidoethyl sulfide derivative from Step 1 with an aqueous protic acid (e.g., HCl).The transition metal salt catalysts are salts of the transition metals in groups 1b, 2b, 6b, 7b and 8, and rows 4 and 5 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, inclusive. As an example, the compound n--C.sub.8 H.sub.17 --S--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --NH--C(O)--C.sub.2 H.sub.5 (I) was prepared in excellent yields by reacting n-octylmercaptan with 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline in the presence of a catalytic amount of hydrated cadmium chloride at a temperature of approximately 200.degree. C and a reaction time of one hour. The compound n--C.sub.8 H.sub.17 --S--CH.sub.2 CH.

Abstract: N-(2-mercaptoethyl)alkanamides are produced by reacting hydrogen sulfide with 2-H-2-oxazolines or 2-alkyl-2-oxazolines. For example, N-(2-mercaptoethyl)acetamide was prepared in excellent yields by incrementally adding 2-methyl-2-oxazoline to a stirred solution of hydrogen sulfide in methanol under autogeneous pressure at about 100.degree. C.

Abstract: N-(2-alkoxyethyl)alkanamides, such as N-(2-ethoxyethyl)ethanamide and N-(2-methoxyethyl)propanamide, are prepared by reacting a 2-oxazoline with methanol or ethanol in the presence of a strong base, such as sodium methoxide. Subsequent hydrolysis of such amides provides a convenient means for obtaining 2-alkoxyethyl amines.