Method of preparing N-acylated mercapto-alpha-amino acids

摘要

N-acylated mercapto- alpha -amino acids of the general formula <IMAGE> (I) are prepared by reacting a nitrile of the general formula R1-CN (II) at a temperature between 0 DEG C. and 100 DEG C. in water or in a mixture of water and an organic solvent which is at least partially miscible with water, in the presence of a base with a mercapto- alpha -amino acid of the general formula <IMAGE> (III) and subsequently releasing the N-acylated mercapto- alpha -amino acid of general formula (I) with an acid. Mercapto- alpha -amino acids can be selectively acylated on the amino group in this manner in a relatively simple manner.