Preparation of N-(l-alkoxyalkyl)formamide and alkylidene bisformamides using amine neutralized ion exchange resins

In a process for the preparation of N-(1-alkoxyalkyl)amides and alkylidene bisamides wherein an alkylamide is reacted with an ether containing composition in the presence of an acid catalyst, the improvement for producing N-(1-alkoxyalkyl)formamides and alkylidene bisformamides which comprises:

• (a) reacting formamide with an ether containing composition selected from the group consisting of an acetal or hemiacetal carboxylate ester represented by the formulas:
• ##STR6## wherein R is C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, hydrocarbyl aralkyl or hydrocarbyl aryl;
• R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, or hydrocarbyl aryl;
• and R.sub.3 is secondary or tertiary alkyl having from 3-8 carbon atoms and
• (b) effecting said reaction of formamide with said acetal or hemiacetal carboxylate ester in the presence of a strong acid ion exchange resin neutralized with an amine having a basicity expressed as pKa of the protonated amine in water ranging from about 4 to 9.