Method of preparing a compound derived from aspartame, useful as a sweetening agent

摘要

A method of preparing N-[N-(3,3-dimethylbutyl)-L- alpha -aspartyl]-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester of the formula <IMAGE> useful as a sweetening agent, wherein an aqueous-alcoholic solution of aspartame and 3,3-dimethylbutyraldehyde of pH 4.5-5 is treated, at room temperature, with hydrogen at a pressure less than or equal to 1 bar, in the presence of a catalyst selected from the group comprising platinum or palladium on activated carbon or in the form of platinum or palladium black, and wherein the product formed is purified by precipitation and filtration after removal of the alcohol part of the solvent under vacuum.