AMINO ETHER CARBOXYLIC ACID OR ITS SALT AND ITS PRODUCTION

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain the subject new compound useful as a chelating agent having high water solubility, chelating performances and biodegradability by making the compound include an amino ether carboxylic acid. SOLUTION: This compound is shown by formula I [X1 and X2 are each an alkali metal or the like; R1 and R2 are each H or a group of the formula CH(COOX3)CH2(COOX4) (X3 and X4 are each an alkali metal or the like)] such as tetrasodium salt (II) of amino ether carboxylate. The compound of formula I is obtained by reacting 1 mol of an aminoalcohol of formula III with preferably 1.5-3 mols of maleic acid and/or its salt (e.g. maleic acid or maleic anhydride) in the presence of a rare earth metal salt (e.g. lanthanum) in an aqueous medium preferably at 80-120 deg.C for 2-5 hours. The amount of the rare earth metal salt is preferably 0.02-1.2 mol equivalent based on maleic acid and/or its salt.