Process for manufacturing L-(-)-carnitine from a waste product having opposite configuration

摘要

The present invention relates to a proces for manufacturing L-(-)-carnitine from D-(+)-carnitine or a derivative thereof. D-(+)-carnitine is esterified in order to protect the carboxyl group and subsequently converted to an acyl derivative. The acyl derivative is then converted to a lactone of L-(-)-carnitine. Finally, the lactone is reopened to obtain L-(-)-carnitine.