PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF N-(PHOSPHONOMETHYL)GLYCINE BY OXIDIZING N-SUBSTITUTED N-(PHOSPHONOMETHYL)GLYCINE

摘要

This invention is directed to an improved process for the preparation of N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine (i.e., "glyphosate"), a salt of N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine, or an ester of N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine. The process comprises combining an N-substituted N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine reactant with oxygen in the presence of a noble metal catalyst. The N-substituted N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine reactant has formula (V) wherein R<1> and R<2> are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, -PO3R<12>R<13>, -SO3R<14>, -NO2, hydrocarbyl, and substituted hydrocarbyl other than -CO2R<15>; and R<7>, R<8>, R<9>, R<12>, R<13>, R<14>, and R<15> are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, and an agronomically acceptable cation.