Process for production of N-vinyl compound

A process for producing an N-vinyl compound of the following formula (2) ##STR12## wherein m and n are each independently 0 or 1,

• R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each independently one member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbon groups having 1-8 carbon atoms and alkoxy groups having 1-6 carbon atoms, with the provisos that (i) when m and n are each 0, none of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are hydrogen, and (ii) when none of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are hydrogen, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may bond to each other to form, together with N, a five- to seven-membered ring which may contain unsaturated bond(s) and/or hetero atom(s) selected from the group consisting of S, O and N other than said N already shown in formula (2), and
• R.sub.4 is one member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and hydrocarbon groups having 1-6 carbon atoms, said process comprising:
• subjecting an N-(1-alkoxyalkyl) compound of the following formula (1) ##STR13## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.4, m and n are the same as in formula (2), and
• R.sub.3 is one member selected from the group consisting of methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group and butyl group, to alcohol elimination in a gas phase in the presence of a solid oxide catalyst of the following formula (13)
• PaXbYcOd (13)
• wherein
• P is phosphorus,
• X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals,
• Y is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Nb, B, Al and Si,
• O is oxygen,
• a, b, c and d are the atomic ratios of P, X, Y and O, respectively, with a:b:c being 1:0.5-5:0-500, and d being determined by a, b, c and the bonding states of the individual elements to convert said N-(1-alkoxyalkyl) compound of the formula (1) into an N-vinyl compound of the formula (2).