Process for the preparation of N-phosphonomethylglycine and salts thereof

摘要

N-Phosphonomethylglycine and its alkali metal or tetraalkylammonium salts are prepared a) by hydrolysis of a compound of the formula: <IMAGE> with an alkali metal hydroxide or tetraalkylammonium hydroxide; b) by treatment of the alkali metal salts or tetraalkylammonium salts with a cation exchange resin; or c) by hydrolysis of a compound of the formula I with aqueous hydrochloric acid or hydrobromic acid. In formula I, Aryl, X, a and b have the meanings given in Claim 1. N-Phosphonomethylglycine is a post-emergence herbicide.