Abstract: As a result of a special form of the surface coating of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 catalysts using additional amounts of aluminum ions and very slight amounts of platinum ions, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 was able to be used as catalyst for continuous operation (150 days and longer) in the preparation of hydrogen cyanide from hydrocarbons and ammonia, preferably in the BMA method.

Abstract: Penicillamine or a homolog thereof is obtained by reacting a 2-disubstituted-5,5-alkyl-thiazolidine nitrile, alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, with a mineral acid in a two-stage proceeding wherein in the first stage relatively low temperatures and a relatively high concentration of the mineral acid are employed while in the second stage the concentration of the acid is relatively low and the temperatures are relatively high, the term "relatively" referring to the relationship of said two stages of the reaction with mineral acid.

Abstract: Organic basic nitrogen compounds are formylated in the presence of acetic anhydride by adding the nitrogen compound as a salt and carrying out the formylation with an alkali or ammonium formate in an organic solvent having limited miscibility with water.

Abstract: Penicillamine or a homolog thereof is obtained by reacting a 2-disubstituted-5,5-alkyl-thiazolidine nitrile, alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, with a mineral acid in a two-stage proceeding wherein in the first stage relatively low temperatures and a relatively high concentration of the mineral acid are employed while in the second stage the concentration of the acid is relatively low and the temperatures are relatively high, the term "relatively" referring to the relationship of said two stages of the reaction with mineral acid.

Abstract: 2 AND 5 SUBSTITUTED THIAZOLINE-(3) COMPOUNDS OF THE FORMULA: ##EQU1## in which R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are the same or different, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are straight or branched chain lower alkyl, alkenyl or aralkyl groups or together are a straight or branched chain alkylene or ethylenically unsaturated divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group which joins with the adjacent carbon atom to form a ring and R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are similarly defined except R.sub.3 can also be hydrogen by reaching a 2,2' dioxodisulfide of the formula ##EQU2## with an oxo compound of the formula ##EQU3## and with ammonia and hydrogen sulfide in the presence of an amine and an ammonium salt.