ENZYMIC METHOD FOR SYNTHESIS OF ASPARTAM

摘要

This method is intended for application in the food and pharmaceutical industries for preparing the strong peptide sweetener aspartame. It is simplified by avoiding the selective protection of the beta-carboxyl group of asparaginic acid and ensures the optical purity of the product. Aspartame (H-Asp-Phe-OMe) is obtained by the condensation of R-CH2-CO-Asp-OH and H-Phe-OMe in a thermolysine catalysed reaction to an aspartame precursor with the following common formula: R-CH2-CO-Asp-Phe-OMe, where R is C6H5-, p-CH3O-C6H4-, p-OH-C6H4-, p-O2N-C6H4-, p-CH3-C6H4- and C6H5O-. Subsequent removal of the N-protective group of the precursor is carried out and obtaining the aspartame through a penicillylamidase catalysed reaction.