METHOD OF PRODUCING METHYL ETHER OF N-L-ALPHA-ASPARTYL-L-PHENYLALANINE

摘要

A process for the preparation of the N-L- alpha -aspartyl-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester (aspartame) which is characterized by adding phosphoric acid and a lower alkyl alcohol to the reaction mixture containing N-formyl alpha -L-aspartyl- and beta -L-aspartyl-L-phenyl-alanine methyl ester and only one of the resultant deformylated isomers, i.e. aspartame phosphate precipitates. The alpha -isomer phosphate is collected by filtration and converted to free aspartame by treatment with a base.