Vinylformamide (VFA) is an important feedstock for water soluble, cationic polymers. VFA is used in the paper industry to increase the efficiency of the production process. Especially the VFA-based, polyvinylamine (PVAm) product line allows paper manufacturers to produce in more environmentally friendly manner and considerably lowering their costs. APPLICATIONS: VFA can be used as a building block to make larger monomers and other compounds. Polymers of VFA can be hydrolysed to form polymers with primary amines functionality. After polymerization and subsequent hydrolysis, N-Vinylformamide (VFA) introduces a primary amine into a polymer, which can be used for cationically charged polymers or crosslinking with e.g. epoxides. Vinylformamide (VFA) is an important feedstock for water soluble, cationic polymers. Paper chemicals such as Vinylformamide help to optimize the costs of the paper process and machine efficiency, through functional chemicals that give paper specific properties to performance chemicals that improve the appearance and performance of printed paper and board. Major applications are in dry and wet strength for paper manufacturing. Especially the VFA-based, polyvinylamine (PVAm) product line allows paper manufacturers to produce in more environmentally friendly manner and to considerably lower their costs. PNVF is known to have no toxicity, making it a promising candidate for biomedical applications. Under the form of Poly-N-vinylformamide or PNVF, vinylformamide derivative may be used for biomedical applications as a drag-reducing polymer. The synthesis and characterization of high molecular weight PNVF, significantly reduces resistance to turbulent flow in a pipe. The mechanical degradation PNVF is much slower than that of the most commonly used polyethylene oxide (PO). PROCESS TO PRODUCE N-VINYLFORMAMIDE COMPRISES THE FOLLOWING STEPS: Reacting acetaldehyde, formamide and the source of anhydride in the reaction vessel under pressure. Dissociating an ester formed by a reaction between the source of anhydride and hydroxyethyl formamide formed in the reaction vessel to synthesize N-vinylformamide and a compound comprising at least one diacid group. Another process to produce N-vinylformamide includes the steps of: reacting hydroxyethyl formamide with a reactant comprising at least one cyclic anhydride group to form an ester, and dissociating the ester via heat in a thin film evaporation to synthesize N-vinylformamide and a compound comprising at least one diacid group, the N-vinylformamide separating from the diacid during the thin film evaporation. The reactant including at least one cyclic anhydride group can, for example, be succinic anhydride, maleic anhydride, phthalic anhydride, (2-docecen-1-yl)succinic anhydride, exo-3,6-epoxy-1,2,3,6-tetrahydrophthalic anhydride or a polymer including at least one cyclic anhydride group.