Glycine → Glyphosate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a 59% aqueous formylphosphonic acid solution (5.0 g, 0.23 mol) in deionized water (25 mL) was added glycine (1.56 g, 0.021 mol). The pH of the resultant mixture was adjusted to 7.0 by addition of 2.5 N sodium hydroxide. The reaction mixture was then transferred to a 300 mL autoclave, a 10% palladium on carbon catalyst (1.0 g) added, and the reactor was sealed and pressurized with hydrogen to 6.89×106 N/m2 gauge. After 60 minutes of reaction at room temperature, 3.2 g of N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine was obtained representing a 91% yield based on glycine.

Provenance & Evidence