This invention relates to the use of polyamine compounds having their backbone modified by the incorporation of aminocarbonyl or aminothiocarbonyl moieties as cell opening agents in the preparation of open-celled flexible polyurethane foams. Use of the polyamine compound as cell opening agent provides for improved cell opening and provides foam with acceptable physical properties.

A method of preparing solid hydroxyalkylamides by reacting carboxylic alkyl esters with alkanolamines at controlled reaction temperatures, removing the alcohol byproduct, controlling the temperature of the reaction mixture to form a slurry, maintaining the slurry and recovering the solid hydroxyalkylamides.

The invention provides as new compounds cis-xis-cis-tetrasubstituted cyclopentane compounds which are expected to be useful as chelating agents for alkaline earths, transition, lanthanide, and actinide metal ions. The compounds have Formula (I). Each of the groups X.sup.1, X.sup.2, X.sup.3, and X.sup.4 comprises at least one potential ligand donor group, or one of the groups X or Z may comprise a group which may permit attachment to a biological active molecule or insoluble support. ##STR1##

The invention relates to the use of poly-N,N-di-(hydroxyalkyl)-polycarbonamides of aliphatic or cycloaliphatic polycarboxylic acids as reactive flame-retardants for polyurethane foams, and in particular polyurethane integral skin foams and polyurethane rigid foams which are produced with the aid of organic blowing agents. These reactive flame-retardants are added in quantities of from 11.5 to 50 parts by weight, and most preferably from 12 to 25 parts by weight, based on 100 parts of the relatively high molecular weight polyol used for the preparation of the foam. The integral skin or rigid foams produced are flame-resistant and because of their reduced flammability are capable of passing various regulation fire tests, and in particular those testing foams for use in vehicles for transport.