Glycine ethyl ester → Glyphosate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Sodium lithium cyanophosphonate was dissolved in water in a Fisher Porter bottle containing a magnetic stir bar, and glycine ethyl ester was added. A catalyst of 5% palladium on carbon (Lot #323810, water 52.38%, Engelhard) was added. After three pressure-release cycles with hydrogen, the bottle was pressurized to 25 psi with hydrogen and stirred overnight at 50° C. The pressure was then released and the reaction mixture was filtered through Celite and washed with D2O. HPLC analysis (system for phosphate analysis) gave a 0.93% yield of N-phosphonomethylglycine.

Provenance & Evidence