Hydrochloric Acid → (-)-alpha-Amino-3-(chloromethyl)-4-hydroxybenzeneacetic acid hydrochloride

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of (-)-α-amino-4-hydroxybenzeneacetic acid (100 g, 0.6 mole) in a minimum amount of concentrated hydrochloric acid at 35°-40° C. is added 50 ml of aqueous formaldehyde (35-37%) (0.6 mole). The addition of hydrogen chloride gas is begun. After 5-10 minutes, a solid begins to precipitate. Stirring is continued for 30 minutes, and the solid is then collected. The crude product is washed with ether and with acetone. A second crop is obtained from the filtrate after standing at room temperature overnight. Total yield is 102 g (67%) m.p.>300° C., [α]D18 =-134° (c 4.75, CH3OH) MNR (DMSO-D6) ppm (δ) 4.68 (s,2), 4.9 (broad s,1), 6.9-7.6 (superimposed q and s,3).

Provenance & Evidence