Patent ID: 6627772
Filing Date: 2003-09-30
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
A multistep process for producing N-[2-(carboxymethoxy)-ethyl]-N-(carboxymethyl)glycine (IX) which process comprises the steps of(1) reacting 3-morpholinone with a base to form [2-(aminoethoxy)acetic acid (Ib); (2) alkylating [2-(aminoethoxy)acetic acid salt formed in step (1) with formaldehyde to form [2-(hydroxy-methylamino)ethoxy]acetic acid (II); (3) reacting [2-(hydroxymethylamino)ethoxy]acetic acid salt formed in step (2) with hydrogen cyanide to form [2-(cyanomethylamino)-ethoxy]acetic acid (III); (4) hydrolyzing [2-(cyanomethylamino)ethoxy]acetic acid formed in step (3) with a base to form N-[2-(carboxymethoxy)ethyl]glycine salt (V); (5) reacting N-[2-(carboxymethoxy)ethyl]glycine formed in step (4) with formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide to form N-[2-(carboxymethoxy)-ethyl]-N-(cyano-methyl)glycine (VII); and (6) hydrolyzing N-[2-(carboxymethoxy)ethyl]-N-(cyano-methyl)glycine formed in step (5) with a base to form N-[2-(carboxymethoxy)ethyl]-N-(carboxy-methyl)glycine (IX).