Hydrochloric Acid → racemic N-chloroacetylisovaline

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a well-stirred mixture chilled to 0° C. to 5° C. (ice bath) of racemic isovaline ((R,S) 2-amino-2-methylbutanoic acid) (350 g, 2.99 mole) and 2N aqueous sodium hydroxide (1.5 L) were added simultaneously chloroacetyl chloride (373 g, 3.31 mole) and 2N aqueous sodium hydroxide (1,718 ml, 3.44 mole) over 1.5 hours . The base was added at such a rate as to keep the reaction mixture basic at all times. The reaction mixture was warmed up to room temperature, treated with concentrated aqueous hydrochloric acid until acidic to litmus paper. A white solid formed which was separated by filtration and dried to yield 454 g (78.5%) of the expected racemic N-chloroacetylisovaline ((R,S) 2-chloroacetamido-2-methylbutanoic acid).

Provenance & Evidence