Patent ID: 8017790

Claim:
A process for preparing a compound of formula (II) or a composition comprising said compound of formula (II) said process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a fermentation broth comprising a compound a compound of formula (I) wherein R 1 is NH 4 + , H, or another cation; and R 2 is NH 4 + , H, or another cation; with the proviso that at least one of R 1 or R 2 is NH 4 + ; (b) converting said compound of formula (I) in said fermentation broth to said compound of formula (II); (c) simultaneously, intermittently, or subsequently distillatively removing ammonia and/or water from said fermentation broth; (d) distilling the bottoms of the distillation of step (c) under reduced pressure to form a distillate comprising said compound of formula (II); (e) isolating said compound of formula (II) or converting said distillate from step (d).