Abstract: A process is provided for making metallated and substituted alkynes from feedstocks which include alkadienes containing allenic unsaturation or such alkadienes in a mixture with alkynes having either internal or terminal unsaturation, such as a mixture of propadiene and propyne. This reaction involves an initial step in which the allenic hydrocarbon and any internal alkyne is isomerized and simultaneously the resultant terminal alkynes are metallated with an alkali metal. The reaction is carried out at relatively low temperatures in a suitable inert solvent such as diethylether. When metallation is complete the reaction mixture can be contacted directly with any suitable electrophile, such as a halo silane, for example, chlorotrimethylsilane, and the alkali metal on the terminal alkyne is replaced with the desired substituent. The products thus formed are useful as monomers for preparing polymers having a variety of properties, for example, as asymmetric membranes for gas separation.

Abstract: Ethylidene bisamide is produced by the reaction of vinyl acetate with a primary carboxylic acid amide over a catalytic amount of a salt of palladium (II), platinum(II) or mercury(II). The reaction is carried out in the presence of an aliphatic or arylaliphatic alcohol in a concentration greater than 0.01 equivalents based upon the limiting reagent.

Abstract: Amides having different molecular kinetic diameters or heats of adsorption, such as formamide and N-(1-alkoxyethyl)formamide, are separated under mild conditions with a molecular sieve which selectively adsorbs one of the amides, such as formamide. N-vinylformamide can be purified by removing formamide remaining in synthesis process streams using this technique. The adsorbed amide can be desorbed by heating the molecular sieve in either inert or reactive atmospheres. Preferred molecular sieves include the zeolites of types A, X, Y, molecular sieves of the MFI topology, chabazite, and mordenite. Calcium chabazite is particularly versatile and effective.

Abstract: Ethylidene bisformamide is produced in high selectivity by the reaction of formamide with vinyl acetate in a molar ratio of at least 1:1 at a temperature from about 60.degree. to 150.degree. C. in the presence of a catalyst comprising an acid salt of mercury of which the parent acid has a pKa less than about 3.8.