Beta-Alanine → Pamidronic Acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

206 gm (1.5 mols) of phosphorus trichloride are slowly dropped while stirring into a mixture heated in a boiling water bath of 89.1 gm (1 mol) of β-alanine, 123 gm (1.5 mols) of phosphorous acid, and 500 ml of chlorobenzene, and heating on the boiling water bath is continued for a further 3 hours. During this time the contents of the flask become solid. After the reaction is finished, 600 ml of water are added and the product is heated for a short time, treated with animal charcoal and filtered while hot. The 3-amino-1-hydroxypropane-1,1-diphosphonic acid gradually crystallizes out from the aqueous phase in a cooling cabinet. The mother liquor is concentrated and treated with methanol, whereupon still further diphosphonic acid is precipitated. The 3-amino-1-hydroxypropane-1,1-diphosphonic acid is then recrystallized from water.

Provenance & Evidence