Abstract: A continuous process for the production of oxamide is based on the catalytic oxidation of hydrogen cyanide with oxygen or air in a strong excess in a solution of copper nitrate in water-acetic acid.The process is carried out in a vertical tubular reactor, with continuous recycling of part of the suspension of oxamides from the bottom to the top of the reactor.

Abstract: A new process for preparing oxalyl- and oxamyl-hydrazides which comprises contacting oxamide or diacetyloxamide with the corresponding hydrazine derivative of formulaR.sub.1 R.sub.2 N--NHR.sub.3wherein R.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, or aryl-alkyl group, R.sub.2 is a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 taken together with the adjacent nitrogen atom represent a saturated heterocyclic ring, and R.sub.3 is a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group.

Abstract: A new process for preparing oxalyl- and oxamyl-hydrazides which comprises contacting oxamide or diacetyloxamide with the corresponding hydrazine derivative of formulaR.sub.1 R.sub.2 N--NHR.sub.3wherein R.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, or aryl-alkyl group, R.sub.2 is a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 taken together with the adjacent nitrogen atom represent a saturated heterocyclic ring, and R.sub.3 is a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group.

Abstract: A new process is described for the preparation of oxalic acid esters and amides of general formula (I) ##STR1## wherein Z designates an --OR or --NR.sup.1 R.sup.2 group, wherein R represents substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, or aryl-alkyl, R.sup.1 is hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, or aryl-alkyl, R.sup.2 represents substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, or aryl-alkyl, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 taken together with the adjacent nitrogen atom represent a saturated 5-, 6-, 7-, or 8-membered heterocyclic ring, which may contain an additional heteroatom selected from --O--, --S--, and --N(H, Alkyl)--, and optionally bear one or more alkyl or alkenyl substituents, andZ.sup.1 designates an --OR or --NR.sup.1 R.sup.2 group, wherein R, R.sup.1, and R.sup.2 are as defined before, or a group --NHCOCH.sub.3, which comprises the base-catalysed reaction of diacetyloxamide with an alcohol ROH or/and an amine HNR.sup.1 R.sup.2.