Patent ID: 8450509

Claim:
A process for the synthesis of amino acids or amino esters of the general formula NH 2 —(CH 2 ) 8 —COOR, R being either H or an alkyl radical comprising from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, from long-chain natural unsaturated fatty acids or esters corresponding to the formula R 1 CH═CH—(CH 2 ) 7 —COOR in which R 1 represents either H or a hydrocarbon radical comprising from 1 to 11 carbon atoms having from 0 to 2 olefinic unsaturations and, optionally one hydroxyl functional group, comprising (a) subjecting said unsaturated fatty acid or ester to a catalytic cross metathesis reaction with ethylene to form ω-unsaturated acids or esters, at least 50 mol% of which correspond to formula CH 2 ═CH—(CH 2 ) 7 —COOR, thereafter; (b) subjecting the acid or ester of the formula CH 2 ═CH—(CH 2 )7—COOR to an oxidative cleavage reaction to form an aldehyde acid/ester of formula CH0—(CH 2 ) 7 —COOR and thereafter; (c) converting the resulting aldehyde acid/ester of formula CHO—(CH 2 ) 7 —COOR by reductive amination to give an ω—amino acid/ester of formula NH 2 —(CH 2 ) 8 —COOR.