ENZYMATIC PREPARATION OF N-(PHOSPHONOMETHYL) GLYCINE

摘要

2123079 9309242 PCTABS00022 The invention provides a process for producing mixtures of glyoxylic acid and aminomethyl phosphonic acid and the subsequent production of N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine, also known as glyphosate. The process comprises preparing in situ a mixture of glyoxylic acid and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) by enzymatically reacting glycolic acid and oxygen in an aqueous solution in the presence of aminomethylphosphonic acid and catalysts consisting of glycolate oxidase and catalase. The resulting mixture is then hydrogenated to produce N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine, a post-emergent phytotoxicant and herbicide.