3-Mercaptopropionic Acid → Thiodipropionic Acid

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Reaction Steps

U.S. Pat. No. 5,256,818 to Tomioka discloses a method for making β-mercaptopropionic acid (HSCH2XH2COOH) by reacting alkaline thiodipropionate obtained from solid thiodipropionic acid, with alkaline sulfide. Specifically, sodium or potassium hydroxide is used to convert solid thiodipropionic acid to the corresponding thiodipropionate, which in turn is reacted with sodium sulfide at a temperature of 110° to 130° C. for one or several hours, preferably in the presence of residual alkaline hydroxide. The resulting solution is acidified with a strong acid to form the β-mercaptopropionic acid.

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