Abstract: Ethylidene bisformamide is prepared by reacting, at elevated temperatures, dry acetaldehyde and formamide in the presence of an acidic catalyst and an ammonia scavenger such as acetic anhydride. The bisformamide is recovered as a bottoms product of high speed low residence time distillation techniques, e.g., wiped film evaporation. The resulting ethylidene bisformamide may be cracked to N-vinylformamide, which monomer is useful in the preparation of active polymers and copolymers, including poly(vinylformamide) which can be hydrolyzed to poly(vinylamine) salts by contact with acid. These amine salts can then be converted to the free amines, which are precursors of polymeric dyes and pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: Ethylidene bisformamide is prepared by reacting, at elevated temperatures, dry acetaldehyde and formamide in the presence of an acidic catalyst and an ammonia scavenger such as acetic anhydride. The bisformamide is recovered as a bottoms products of high speed low residence time distillation techniques, e.g., wiped film evaporation. The resulting ethylidene bisformamide may be cracked to N-vinylformamide, which monomer is useful in the preparation of active polymers and copolymers, including poly(vinylformamide) which can be hydrolyzed to poly(vinylamine) salts by contact with acid. These amine salts can then be converted to the free amines, which are precursors of polymeric dyes and pharmaceuticals.

Abstract: A composition useful for relieving the symptoms of psoriasis in humans are disclosed. The composition is an N-trialkylsilyl-substituted 6-aminonicotinamide. The composition is applied in a suitable pharmaceutical base, such as a cream or ointment, to the affected area of skin.

Abstract: A group of water-soluble polymeric yellow colors and their preparation is disclosed. These colors comprise a plurality of units of a chromophore of the formula ##STR1## wherein M.sup.+ is a pharmaceutically acceptable monovalent cation attached directly to amine units present in a nonchromophoric polymer backbone. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the backbone is a homopolymer or copolymer of vinylamine. These colorants find special utility as nonabsorbable colorants for edibles, especially foods and beverages, where their yellow hue is an excellent color match for existing monomeric azo food colors such as tartrazine, and as components of acid-insoluble pigment lakes which are themselves suitable for use in edibles.

Abstract: A group of water-soluble polymeric yellow colors and their preparation is disclosed. These colors comprise a plurality of units of a chromophore of the formula ##STR1## wherein M.sup.+ is a pharmaceutically acceptable monovalent cation, attached directly to amine units present in a nonchromophoric polymer backbone. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the backbone is a homopolymer or copolymer of vinylamine. These colorants find special utility as nonabsorbable colorants for edibles, especially foods and beverages, where their yellow hue is an excellent color match for existing monomeric azo food colors such as tartrazine, and as components of acid-insoluble pigment lakes which are themselves suitable for use in edibles.

Abstract: Ethylsulfonate-alkylamine copolymers are disclosed. These copolymers find special application as intermediates in the preparation of new water-soluble polymeric colorants which are also disclosed, especially water-soluble polymeric colorants for edibles.

Abstract: Edible materials including foods, beverages and oral pharmaceuticals are sweetened by the addition of a sweetening amount in the range of from about 0.002% to 1% by weight (basis edible material) of flavanone represented by the structural formula ##STR1## wherein R is a lower alkyl of from one to three carbon atoms inclusive, n is an integer of from one to three inclusive and M is hydrogen or a physiologically acceptable metal cation.