PROCESS FOR THE RESOLUTION OF RACEMIC ALPHA- AMINONITRILES

摘要

A process is disclosed for the resolution of racemic .alpha.aminonitriles of the formula (I) wherein R1 is hydrogen or methyl, R2 is hydrogen or methoxy and R3 is hydrogen or methyl,wherein the racemic mixture is reacted with (-)-mandelic acid in alkanol/C5-8 hydrocarbons to obtain a racemic mixture of diastereoisomeric D and L salts of (-)-mandelic acid, which mixture is then macerated with alkanol/C5-8 hydrocarbon system to dissolve the L salt and the D-salt is filtered off. The D-salt is racemized with ammonia and the D.L-amino-nitrile recycled. The L-salt is neutralized and the L-aminonitrile extracted and converted into a stable form such as the hydrochloride or acyl derivative.