Patent ID: 9512061
Filing Date: 2016-12-06
CPC Classification: C07C

Claim Text:
1. A process for producing a mixture comprising: (a) from 91 to 99.9% by weight of a racemic α-amino acid, and (b) from 0.1 to 9% by weight of the corresponding racemic α-hydroxycarboxylic acid, wherein said racemic α-amino acid (a) and said racemic α-hydroxycarboxylic acid (b) are completely neutralized, wherein the racemic α-amino acid is at least one selected from the group consisting of alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, 2-aminopropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid, 2-aminomalonic acid, 2-amino-3-hydroxysuccinic acid, and 2,3-diaminosuccinic acid, and wherein % by weight of each (a) and (b) are based in each case on the total weight of the mixture, the process comprising: reacting the corresponding racemic α-hydroxycarboxylic acid or at least one salt of the corresponding racemic α-hydroxycarboxylic acid in the presence of at least one heterogeneous catalyst which comprises a transition metal, and in the presence of hydrogen with at least one nitrogen compound (c), wherein the at least one nitrogen compound (c) is selected from the group consisting of a primary and secondary amine and ammonia.