N-formylation of amino carboxylates with alkyl formates

摘要

Formylating the amino nitrogen of an alkali metal salt of an amino carboxylic acid, by reacting the salt with an alkyl formate in an alkanol solvent. In one embodiment, the alkyl formate is added to the reaction as such; in another embodiment, the alkyl formate is formed in situ by reaction of carbon monoxide with the alkanol solvent in the presence of the alkali metal salt of the amino carboxylic acid. The process provides a new class of compounds, the alkali metal salts of N-formyl-aspartic acids.