L-Alanine → (2S)-2-[[(2S)-1-ethoxy-1-oxopentan-2-yl]amino]propanoic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

Into a tank, fitted with a stirrer, introduce 25 kg of L-alanine dissolved in water, 1.1 kg of sodium hydroxide and 36 kg of ethyl 2-oxopentanoate. Stir the reaction mixture for 30 minutes. Into a hydrogenation apparatus introduce 5% palladium-on-carbon suspended in water, then the mixture obtained above. Hydrogenate at ambient temperature at a pressure of 1 bar until the theoretical amount of hydrogen has been absorbed. Remove the catalyst by filtration, then add concentrated hydrochloric acid to the filtrate until a pH of 3 is obtained. Harvest the resulting solid by means of filtration, take up the cake in acetonitrile at reflux, filter while hot and then allow to crystallize.

Provenance & Evidence