摘要 |
The process for the production of carnitine hydrochloride which involves placing an ester of gamma -halo-acetoacetic acid having the formula: <IMAGE> wherein R1 is hydrogen, R2 is a lower alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and X is a halogen atom selected from the group consisting of chlorine or bromine, in an aqueous solution of excess trimethyl amine held at a temperature between 0 DEG and 50 DEG C., a reaction resulting between said ester and said amine. The excess trimethyl amine is distilled off. The pH of the solution is adjusted between 4 and 8, (3-carbalkoxy-2-oxopropyl)-trimethyl ammonium halide resulting. The (3-carbalkoxy-2-oxopropyl)-trimethyl ammonium is hydrogenated without isolating said halide from solution, a carnitine ester resulting. The carnitine ester is converted by means of aqueous hydrochloric acid into carnitine hydrochloride.
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