Sulfuric Acid → Glyphosate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Fuming sulfuric acid (5%, 150 grams) was added to a glass reaction vessel fitted with a stirrer and thermometer. The fuming sulfuric acid was heated to 110° C. and N-phosphonomethyl-imino-diacetic acid (70 grams) was added over a 1 hour period while maintaining the temperature at 110° C. The reaction mixture was heated to 110° C. for an additional hour at which time nuclear magnetic resonance spectra analysis showed that none of the starting N-phosphonomethyl-imino-diacetic acid remained. Assay of the reaction mixture (214.0 grams, 22.35% assay) showed that a 95.3% yield of N-phosphonomethyl glycine had been obtained.

Provenance & Evidence