Patent ID: 8642792

Claim:
A process for synthesizing amino acids or amino esters of general formula NH 2 —(CH 2 ) n —COOR in which n represents an integer between 5 and 14, R is either H or an alkyl radical containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and containing at least 0.2×10 −10 % by mass of 14 C, from monounsaturated long-chain natural fatty acids or esters containing at least 10 adjacent carbon atoms per molecule, which consists first in converting, in an optional first step, said long-chain natural fatty acid or ester, via a physical treatment, via homometathesis or via a microbiological fermentation process, into a monounsaturated fatty acid or ester of general formula R 1 —(CH 2 ) m —CH═CH—(CH 2 ) p —COOR in which R 1 represents H, CH 3 or a radical COOR, m is an integer between 0 and 14 and p is an integer between 2 and 11, and then subjecting said monounsaturated fatty acid or ester of general formula R 1 —(CH 2 ) m —CH═CH—(CH 2 ) p —COOR to a catalytic cross-metathesis reaction with a compound of formula R 2 —CH═CH—R 3 in which R 2 is either H or CN and R3 is H, CN or CH 2 NH 2 , with the proviso that if R 2 is CN, R 3 can be only CN, and finally converting the resulting product corresponding to the general formula R3-CH═CH—(CH 2 ) p —COOR, into an ω-amino acid by hydrogenation or by amination.