Acetic Anhydride → N-acetoacetyl-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester

Participants

Reaction Steps

This invention encompasses a method and intermediates for preparing a commercial sweetening agent, α-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester. The process involves reacting L-aspartic acid with diketene to form N-acetoacetyl-L-aspartic acid which is converted to N-acetoacetyl-L-aspartic anhydride by reaction with acetic anhydride. N-acetoacetyl-L-aspartic anhydride is reacted with L-phenylalanine methyl ester to provide N-acetoacetyl-α-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester which is converted to α-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester by reaction with hydroxylamine hydrochloride.

Provenance & Evidence