Potassium Carbonate → L-Phenylalanine, methyl ester

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of L-phenylalanine methyl ester in ethyl acetate is prepared by dissolving 11 g (0.05 moles) of L-phenylalanine methyl ester hydrochloride in 50 ml of water and then adding 6 g of K2CO3. The aqueous solution thus obtained is extracted twice, each time with 100 ml of ethyl acetate. The organic layers obtained in this manner are added together, dried over anhydrous Na2SO4, and concentrated under reduced pressure to a final volume of 50 ml. 30 ml of ethyl adetate, 7.2 g (0.05 moles) of N-formyl-L-aspartic anhydride and 1.0 g of the commercial cation exchange resin DOWEX 50 W (of the Dow Chemical Company), previously dried at 50° C. under vacuum to constant weight, are fed into a reaction flask of 500 ml capacity, fitted with an agitator and dropping funnel.

Provenance & Evidence