Abstract: A single stage process, with recirculation of reactants, is provided herein for making N-vinylpyrrolidone or N-vinyl caprolactam at a high reaction rate and selectivity and at a predetermined conversion per pass. In this process a reaction mixture is formed by saturating a non-aqueous, liquid mixture of recirculating lactam, vinyl lactam and catalyst with acetylene at low temperatures and pressures to provide a high concentration of acetylene in the liquid, pumping the saturated solution into a reactor, reacting the mixture as a single liquid phase, cooling the reaction product, withdrawing a portion of the cooled product, recirculating the rest into the reaction mixture, and continuously feeding additional lactam and catalyst therein.

Abstract: N-substituted aldonamides are synthesized by the reaction of alkylamines and aldonolactone. Commercially available sources of aldonolactones (e.g., lactobiono-1,5-lactone) include aldonic acid (e.g., lactobionic acid). The presence of the acid leads to the formation of an ammonium salt impurity. The ammonium salt formation during the synthesis of N-alkyl aldonamides was minimized by the addition of an external acid. External acids and, optionally, emulsifiers were utilized to substantially reduce or eliminate the formation of an ammonium salt and to obtain N-substituted aldonamides of high purity.