Abstract: The invention is a process for alkylating nitriles using an electrogenerated base and an alkylating agent comprising (a) electro-reducing an azobenzene probase at a cathode in an electrolysis medium comprising the azobenzene probase, a nitrile and a supporting electrolyte to produce an electrogenerated base, (b) deprotonating the nitrile with the electrogenerated base to produce a nitrile anion, and (c) reacting the nitrile anion with alkylating agent to form alkylated nitrile; the probase being more easily electro-reducible than the nitrile and producing an electrogenerated base strong enough to deprotonate the nitrile which is sufficiently acidic to permit such deprotonation, and the electrogenerated base not reacting readily, unless rapidly reversibly, with the alkylating agent.

Abstract: The invention is a process for using certain electrogenerated bases in reactions such as acetoacetic ester condensations wherein an azobenzene probase is electro-reduced to produce an electrogenerated base, acetic ester is deprotonated by electrogenerated base to produce an anion, and the anion is condensed with acetic ester to produce acetoacetic ester condensation product; the probase being more easily electro-reducible than the acetic ester and producing an electrogenerated base strong enough to deprotonate the acetic ester which is sufficiently acidic to permit such deprotonation. The probase can be regenerated, either directly or indirectly, by anodic oxidation to probase making the reaction catalytic.

Abstract: The invention is a process for alkylating nitrogen acids using an electrogenerated base as a catalyst comprising (a) electro-reducing a probase at the cathode by electrolysis in an aprotic liquid electrolysis medium comprising a probase, an anhydrous aprotic solvent, and supporting electrolyte to produce an electrogenerated base, (b) deprotonating a nitrogen acid with the electrogenerated base to produce a nitrogen acid anion, and (c) reacting the nitrogen acid anion with an alkylating agent to produce an alkylated nitrogen acid; with the aforesaid probase being more easily electro-reducible than the nitrogen acid and producing an electrogenerated base strong enough to deprotonate the nitrogen acid which is sufficiently acidic to permit such deprotonation, and the electrogenerated base not reacting readily, unless rapidly reversibly, with the alkylating agent.

Abstract: Fire-resistant organic materials including foams, are made by heating at temperatures sufficient to cause polymerization and elimination of nitrogen and sulfur precursor aromatic polymers having sulfonamide linkages and aromatic compounds capable of forming said polymers, e.g. sulfamyl-type aminoaromatic compounds such as sulfanilamide, sulfaguanadine and the like. Preferred compounds are those providing para linkages in the sulfonamide polymer chain, those which are substantially free of oxidizing substituents, for example nitro groups, and those which are not fused-ring aromatic. Preferred foams are the high expansion foams, i.e. those having expansion ratios of at least about 3:1, more preferably at least about 8:1. The precursors of these fire-resistant organic materials can be incorporated into polymers such as polyvinylidene chloride, polyisocyanates, aminoplasts, and the like either physically by mixing or by chemical reaction to give improved fire-resistance.

Abstract: The invention is a process for anionically polymerizing vinyl monomers comprising contacting a vinyl monomer with an electrolytically reduced graphite having formed therein a Graphite R.sub.4 N.sup.+ intercalation compound wherein Graphite is a graphite anion radical and each R is alkyl, preferably alkyl having not more than 8 carbon atoms, to form vinyl polymer. The reduced graphite for polymerizing the vinyl monomers is prepared by electrochemical reduction of a graphite cathode in a polar aprotic solvent containing a quaternary ammonium salt electrolyte to form a graphite anion associated with a quaternary ammonium cation intercalated in the graphite. When the electrolysis is completed the graphite cathode is removed from the electrolysis cell, rinsed and contacted with vinyl monomer either dissolved in a solvent or neat to cause the polymer formation.

Abstract: The invention is a process for making porous amine/aldehyde structures or powders comprising solid approximately-spherical cross-linked particles of less than 10 microns, said process comprising electrolyzing aqueous solutions of urea-formaldehyde prepolymer, melamine-formaldehyde prepolymer or mixtures thereof under electrolysis conditions sufficient to initiate condensation polymerization and formation of said structures or powders. The structures are all broadly designated as open pore urea-formaldehyde structures (OPUF) even though, of course, the ones made from melamine and formaldehyde without urea will have no urea in them. If the reactor is stirred during polymerization powders consisting of primary spherical particles and small porous agglomerates, are formed.

Abstract: The invention relates to radiation sources comprising a substrate having an electrically-conductive non-radioactive metal surface, a layer of a metal radioactive isotope of the Scandium group, which in addition to scandium, yttrium, lanthanum and actinium, includes all the lanthanide and actinide series of elements, with the actinide series usually being preferred because of the nature of the radioactive isotopes therein, particularly americium-241, curium-244, plutonium-238, californium-252 and promethium-147, and a non-radioactive bonding metal codeposited on the surface by electroplating the isotope and bonding metal from an electrolytic solution, the isotope being present in the layer in minor amount as compared to the bonding metal, and with or without a non-radioactive protective metal coating covering the isotype and bonding metal on the surface, the coating being sufficiently thin to permit radiation to pass through the coating.

Abstract: A solar energy collector is described which consists of either a photoelectric cell or a heat-absorbing material mounted within a hollow concentrator. The photoelectric cell has the form of a rod of a monocrystalline element or compound with a generally cylindrical junction spaced at a distance radially inwardly from the outer surface of the rod. The photoelectric cell is mounted within a hollow transparent trough shaped concentrator or body which contains a liquid, e.g. water, which can be made to flow in order to both cool the photoelectric cell, thereby improving its efficiency, and to promote transmission of solar energy to the photoelectric cell by total internal reflectance.

Abstract: In a process for data signal recording in which a recording medium is impinged upon by an intensity-modulated, focused laser beam to form a hole in at least one layer of the recording medium, the improvement wherein at least one layer of the recording medium comprises a polymer capable of undergoing residue-free depolymerization and the laser beam is of sufficient intensity to effect said depolymerization.

Abstract: This invention is a coated waveguide holder-humdifier which is used to supply moisture in the case of moisture sensitive reactions in order that quantitative results might be obtained with a gradient light analytical detector which will quantitatively measure atmospheric contaminants by comparing changes in light transmission through the coated waveguides before and after exposure. The coated waveguide holder-humidifier comprises a container, a porous material capable of absorbing water and desorbing water vapor mounted within the container, means to hold one or more waveguides within the container, and one or more openings in the container to allow fluid (liquid or gas) sample to contact a waveguide.

Abstract: A device for detecting organic vapors comprising (a) an elongated waveguide having on the surface thereof a sufficient amount of liquid crystal material sensitive to organic vapor to measurably change the light transmitting capability of said waveguide upon contacting said waveguide with said vapor, (b) a light source positioned to transmit light lengthwise through said waveguide, and (c) means for measuring the light exiting from said waveguide. The device is useful in a method for measuring organic vapors comprising the steps of (a) exposing said waveguide to a gas which may contain organic vapor to which said liquid crystals are sensitive, and (b) transmitting light through said waveguide, and (c) detecting the light transmitted in step (b) as a measure of said organic vapor. Waveguides of the device are separately claimed as a subcombination.

Abstract: Flame retardant protection has been demonstrated on cotton and on polyester-cotton materials by the product obtained from the reaction of cyanamide and PCl.sub.5 followed by reaction with anhydrous ammonia in excess of that required to react with the chlorine on the cyanamide and PCl.sub.5 intermediate product. Conveniently the material can be treated with an aqueous solution containing a sufficient amount of the new flame retardant compound and the material dried to make the material self extinguishing. Then the treated and dried material is cured at a sufficient temperature to bond the flame retardant to the material. Alternatively and usually preferably, the drying and curing can be accomplished as a single operation.