Gas phase catalyzed reactions

A process for preparing HCN in a gas phase reaction at elevated temperature comprising the steps of:

• (a) contacting one or more compounds which contain carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen with a catalyst bed comprising a substantially uniformly distributed multiplicity of discrete metallic susceptor entities substantially uniformly distributed in a three dimensional array, wherein electrical conductivity between said entities is substantially less than surface conductivity of said entities, and wherein said entities comprise one or more metals from Groups Ib, IIb, IIIa, IVa, IVb, Vb, VIb, VIIb, or VIII, and wherein said entities have sufficient electrical conductivity and wherein size and geometry of said entities are such that said entities provide a sufficiently large eddy current path in a plane of a coil induced current to have sufficient induction heating efficiency and sufficient surface area to promote catalytic activity;
• and
• (b) heating said entities directly and individually by induction heating using an induction coil at a frequency between 50 Hz to 30 MHz to a temperature sufficient to effect reaction of said compounds.