Abstract: Hydrogenation catalyst and a process for producing gamma-butyrolactone by hydrogenating a feed compound -- selected from the group consisting of maleic acid, succinic acid, maleic anhydride, succinic anhydride, and mixtures of any of the foregoing -- in the vapor phase, in the presence of said catalyst, which is a highly selective elemental Cu-Pd or Cu-Pt catalyst, in order to produce high yields of gamma-butyrolactone and minimize the formation of by-products.

Abstract: A composition of matter which is useful as a flocculant for aqueous dispersions containing suspended solid particles and as a filler retention aid in paper-making, consisting essentially of quaternized cationic vinyllactam-acrylamide copolymer containing the following recurring units in a random distribution: ##STR1## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl and ethyl; R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl; R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms and together may represent the residue of a cyclic secondary amine, e.g., morpholine; R.sub.4 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or benzyl radicals (10-100%) and hydrogen (0-90%); and X represents an anion such as chloride, bromide, sulfate, methyl sulfonate, etc.; and Z is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and the group ##STR2## wherein R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.

Abstract: A photoconductive iodinated poly(vinyl carbazole) having a mole ratio of iodine to vinyl carbazole between 0.05 and 0.9. The iodinated poly(vinyl carbazole) is used to form a photoconductive layer or coating on a substrate such as a transparent substrate or paper. The iodinated poly(vinyl carbazole) is formed by reacting a slurry of poly(vinyl carbazole) having a high surface area, typically above about 10 m.sup.2 /gram, with a source of iodide and of iodate ions.

Abstract: Alkynols such as butynediol and propargyl alcohol are produced from acetylene and an aldehyde such as formaldehyde in the presence of a novel ethynylation catalyst comprising a copper acetylide complex on a transitional alumina carrier.