Sodium Hydroxide → N-[3-(4-carboxybutoxy)-5-(octadecyloxy)phenyl]-N-(carboxymethyl)glycine

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Reaction Steps

A solution of 2.0 g (3.3 mmol) of N-(carboxymethyl)-N-[3-(octadecyloxy)-5-[(5-methoxy-5-oxopentyl)oxy]phenyl]glycine and 2.8 ml (16.5 mmol) of 6N NaOH in 100 ml of methanol was stirred at reflux under argon for 16 hours. After cooling to room temperature, the precipitated sodium salt was removed by filtration, dissolved in 300 ml of water and the mixture was acidified with 4 ml of 6N HCl. The product was extracted with ethyl acetate and the dried extract was concentrated at reduced pressure to a solid which was recrystallized from acetone-hexane to give 1.8 g (92% yield, mp 126°-128°) of N-[3-(4-carboxybutoxy)-5-(octadecyloxy)phenyl]-N-(carboxymethyl)glycine.

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