Hydrochloric Acid → N-Acetyl-S-methyl-L-cysteine

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 13.5 g (100 mmole) of S-methyl-L-cysteine dissolved in 210 ml of 1 N sodium hydroxide solution was ice cooled and 10.4 ml (110 mmole) of acetic anhydride was added thereto dropwise. After 2.0 hours at room temperature, the mixture was acidified to pH 1.0 with 6 N hydrochloric acid and extracted with ethyl acetate. The extract was dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to give 15.9 g (89.6% yield) of S-methyl-N-acetyl-L-cysteine as an oil.

Provenance & Evidence