RESOLUTION/RACEMIZATION OF AMINOLACTAM COMPOUNDS

摘要

Resolution of .alpha.-amino-.epsilon.-caprolactam with simultaneous racemization of the undesired .alpha.-aminocaprolactam enantiomer is effected by preferentially crystallizing the L- (or D-) .alpha.-amino-caprolactam compound in the presence of a racemization catalyst. In a narrower embodiment racemization of .alpha.-amino-.epsilon.-caprolactam is effected by alternate routes of forming a coordinately saturated aminolactam-metal complex and reacting with a strong base or reacting a mixture of an aminolactam salt and aminolactam free base with a chelating carbonyl compound and a metal ion or reacting a mixture of an aminolactam salt and aminolactam free base in the presence of a salen derivative complex.