Abstract: A process which comprises contacting and catalytically reacting under essentially anhydrous conditions in the liquid phase an amide with a nitrile according to the equation:RCONH.sub.2 +R.sup.1 CN.revreaction.RCN+R.sup.1 CONH.sub.2where R and R.sup.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method which comprises the reaction in a reaction zone of a nitrile, RCN, with a hydroxyl compound, R'OH, in the presence of an inorganic catalyst introduced into the reaction zone, thereby producing a reaction mixture containing at least one amide selected from R--CONHR' and R--CON(R').sub.2, whereineach of R and R' contains no acetylenic unsaturation and 1 to 30 carbon atoms,each of R and R' is independently selected from a hydrocarbyl group and a hydrocarbyl group that is substituted with a group selected from cyano, carbamoyl, hydrocarbylcarbamoyl, dihydrocarbylcarbamoyl, and hydroxyl,wherein said inorganic catalyst is selected from phosphates and sulfates of Be, Ng, Al and B, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method which comprises introducing into a reaction zone a feed which comprises a hydroxyl compound reactant, R"OH, at least one amide reactant selected from R-CONH.sub.2 and R-CONHR', and an inorganic catalyst, thereby reacting R"OH with said amide reactant to produce a rection mixture containing at least one disubstituted amide selected from R-CONHR".sub.2 and R-CONHR'R", whereineach of R, R' and R" contains no acetylenic unsaturation and 1 to 30 carbon atoms,each of R, R' and R" is selected from a hydrocarbyl group and a hydrocarbyl group that is substituted with a group selected from carbamoyl, hydrocarbylcarbamoyl, dihydrocarbylcarbamoyl, and hydroxyl,wherein said inorganic catalyst is selected from phosphates and sulfates of a Group 13 element and of a Group 2 metal having an atomic weight less than 145, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is the liquid phase reaction of the acrylonitrile with ammonia in the presence of a large amount of a polar solvent having a high dielectric constant.