Glycine → Glyphosate

Reaction equation

[NH2:1][CH2:2][C:3]([OH:5])=[O:4].[CH:6]([P:8](=[O:11])([OH:10])[OH:9])=O.[H][H]>>[CH2:2]([NH:1][CH2:6][P:8]([OH:11])([OH:10])=[O:9])[C:3]([OH:5])=[O:4]

Participants

Reactant 3

HCID 750Glycine2×

HCID 10154022Formylphosphonic Acid

HCID 178418361HCID 178418361, compound

Product 1

HCID 3496GlyphosateYield 93.9%

Procedure

Reaction of glycine and formylphosphonic acid was carried out in the manner described in Example 2 except that the amount of glycine used was increased slightly (1.9 g; 0.025 mole), a smaller amount of catalyst was supplied (0.1 g), and the pH was adjusted to 8.0. The system was maintained at the reaction temperature and pressure for 20 hours although hydrogen uptake ceased after 0.5 hour. The analysis indicated a 93.9% yield of glyphosate salt.