Patent ID: 7399616

Claim:
A process for preparing a N α -acyl-L-arginine ester according to the following formula: where: X − is Br − , Cl − , or HSO 4 − R 1 is a linear alkyl chain from a saturated fatty acid, or a hydroxy-acid, having from 8 to 14 atoms of carbon and being bonded to the α-amino acid group through amidic bond; R 2 is a linear or branched alkyl chain from 1 to 18 carbon atoms or a phenylic group; R 3 is: and n is 3, the process comprising reacting (i) a N α -acyl-L-arginine acid, as a cationic salt or acid salt, of the formula: where X − , R 1 , and R 3 are as described above and R 2 is H, an organic cation, or an inorganic cation; and (ii) an alcohol with (a) a linear or branched alkyl chain from 1 to 18 carbon atoms or (b) a phenylic group, in the presence of (iii) a catalyst comprising a hydrolase, the reaction being carried out in a low-water-content organic medium.