Syngas reactions: XIV. Amidocarbonylation as a route to α-aminocarboxylix acids

Abstract

The amidocarbonylation of olefin and aldehyde substrates has been applied to the synthesis of a variety of amidocarboxylic acids, including surface active agents (e.g. C 14C 16 N-acyl-α-amino acids), specialty surfactants (such as the sarcosinates), intermediates for sweeteners (e.g. aspartame), food additives (e.g. glutamic acid), and certain chelating agents. Homogeneous cobalt and rhodium-based catalysts, modified, for example, with sulfoxide and bidentate phosphine ligands, have been tailored to the synthesis of each individual class of product. Process studies, including examinations of reaction rate, product selectivity, as well as catalyst stability, have been undertaken for N-acetylglycine and amino acid surfactant syntheses.