摘要 |
This invention provides improvements in certain processes for alkylating amino acids whereby yields based on amino acid are improved. More specifically, the invention provides a process for the preparation of amino acid derivatives in free acid or salt form, in which the nitrogen atoms of two or more amino acid molecules are linked by a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group, which process includes a reaction step comprising reacting, in an aqueous medium at a pH in the range 7-14, a compound of the formula X-A-Y where X and Y are halo atoms which may be the same or different and A is a hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl group, in which X and Y are attached to aliphatic or cycloaliphatic carbon atoms, with an amino acid (or salt thereof); wherein the process includes the step of recovering unreacted amino acid and recycling it to the reaction step. |