Abstract: Monomethylformamide and dimethylformamide are produced by the catalytic reaction of formamide and methanol, using a quaternary ammonium compound as the catalyst.

Abstract: A process for making highly pure cyclic esters by heating a copolymer of .alpha.-hydroxy acid or its ester on a thermally stable polyether core.

Abstract: This invention relates to a composition and method of temporarily reducing the permeability of subterranean formations penetrated by a wellbore. In particular, it relates to an inexpensive, low molecular weight condensation product of hydroxy acetic acid with itself or compounds containing other hydroxy-, carboxylic-acid-, or hydroxycarboxylic-acid moieties and method for preventing fluid loss during well treatment.

Abstract: In the process of preparing substituted formamides by the catalytic oxidation of substituted tertiary amines, in which a metal halide catalyst is used in conjunction with an alkali metal halide corrosion inhibitor, pitting of equipment can be inhibited by including in the reaction medium a primary alkylamine, urea or a substituted urea, or thiourea or a substituted thiourea.

Abstract: The alkali metal methylate catalyst used in the catalytic preparation of dimethylformamide from dimethylamine and carbon monoxide is deactivated by bringing it into contact with an alkyl formate.

Abstract: The alkali metal methylate catalyst used in the preparation of dimethylformamide from dimethylamine and carbon monoxide can be preserved, recycled and reused if the reaction mass contains dimethylamine in excess of the stoichiometric amount at all times.

Abstract: Substituted formamides are prepared by the catalytic oxidation of substituted tertiary amines, in which the catalyst is a metal halide used in conjunction with an alkali metal halide or ammonium halide.

Abstract: A melt oxychlorination process which produces trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene by chlorinating C.sub.2 hydrocarbons and their incompletely chlorinated derivatives containing at least 50% by weight of 1,1,2-trichloroethane, dichloroethylene, or both together, with a melt consisting essentially of iron chloride, copper chloride and alkali metal chloride by dispersing the material to be chlorinated in the melt whereby said material is chlorinated by the melt, wherein certain alkali metal chlorides, proportions thereof, and process conditions are utilized to provide desired product selectivity.

Abstract: The production of undesirable oligomeric cyclic ethers in the preparation of polyether glycols is reduced by using as a catalyst an acid-activated montmorillonite clay which contains, per gram, 0.1 to 0.9 milliequivalent of hydrogen ions having pK.sub.a values of -3 to -8.

Abstract: A process for chemical plating of nickel or cobalt onto materials otherwise noncatalytic to the plating baths by pretreating the materials with a reducing agent such as sodium borohydride or dimethylamine borane prior to chemical plating. Treating the material with an oxidizing agent prior to the pretreatment is also useful, especially for plating copper. The invention is particularly desirable for plating nickel onto copper conductor patterns on polymeric substrate circuit boards. The copper is plated with nickel, and the substrate is not.