Process for making a C1 -C7 aliphatic hydrocarbyl ester of an N-[2,6-di(C1 -C7 alkyl)phenyl] α-aminocarboxylic acid

Abstract

Disclosed is a process for making a C 1 -C 7 aliphatic hydrocarbyl ester of an N-[2,6-(C 1 -C 7 alkyl)phenyl] α-amino-carboxylic acid from the corresponding 2,6-di(C 1 -C 7 alkyl)aniline and the corresponding chlorocarboxylic acid ester, which comprises effecting with a catalytic quantity of di(C 1 -C 7 alkyl)aniline hydrochloride the reaction of said aniline and said ester.

I claim: 
     
       1. A process for synthesizing a C 1  -C 7  aliphatic hydrocarbyl ester of an N-[2,6-di(C 1  -C 7  alkyl)phenyl] α-aminocarboxylic acid from the corresponding 2,6-di(C 1  -C 7  alkyl)aniline and the corresponding .[.chlorocarboxylic.]. .Iadd.chloroacetic .Iaddend.acid ester, which comprises effecting with a catalytic quantity of 2,6-.Iadd.di.Iaddend.(C 1  -C 7  alkyl)aniline hydrochloride reaction of said aniline and said ester. 
     
     
       2. A process according to claim 1 in which said reaction is carried out at 100°-250° C. for a period of time from about 15 minutes to about 5 hours, and said catalytic quantity is about 0.5-5% by weight of said aniline. 
     
     
       3. A process according to claim 2 in which the reaction is carried out neat. 
     
     
       4. A process according to claim 2 in which the reaction is carried out in an inert liquid reaction medium. 
     
     
       5. A process according to claim 4 in which said hydrochloride is the hydrochloride salt of said aniline reactant. 
     
     
       6. A process according to claim 5 in which said aniline is 2,6-diethylaniline. 
     
     
       7. A process according to claim 6 in which said chlorocarboxylic acid ester is ethyl chloroacetate.