Claims
- 1. A method for preparing alkali metal aminoalkanoate represented by the formula RNH(CR.sub.2).sub.n CO.sub.2 M where each R is selected from among hydrogen, and hydrocarbyl radicals selected from alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, and combinations in which the number of carbon atoms in each of the radicals ranges from 1 to about 12, M is an alkali metal selected from sodium, potassium, rubidium, and cesium, n is an integer of 1 to about 12, and the total number of carbon atoms in each molecule of the alkali metal aminoalkanoate is 3 to about 24, by contacting in the presence of an alkali metal carboxylate represented by the formula R.sub.3 CO.sub.2 M.sub.1 where R.sub.3 is a hydrocarbyl radical selected from among alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, and combinations thereof, said radicals having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, and M.sub.1 is an alkali metal selected from lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, and cesium, a reaction mixture comprising:
- (a) at least one alkali metal hydroxide;
- (b) water, and
- (c) at least one lactam.
- 2. A method of claim 1 wherein compounds are present in the reaction mixture in the mole ratios of 1:1 to 6.5:1 of water:alkali metal hydroxide, 1.5:1 to 8:1 of lactam:alkali metal hydroxide; and 0.05:1 to 1:1 of alkali metal carboxylate:alkali metal hydroxide.
- 3. A method of claim 1 or 2 wherein the lactam is N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, the alkali metal carboxylate is sodium acetate, and the alkali metal hydroxide is sodium hydroxide.
- 4. A method of claim 1 wherein after formation of the alkali metal aminoalkanoate the reaction mixture is dehydrated by distillation at atmospheric pressure.
Parent Case Info
This application is a divisional application of my copending application Ser. No. 147,407 filed May 6, 1980 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,324,886.
US Referenced Citations (8)
Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
Number |
Date |
Country |
820439 |
Nov 1951 |
DEX |
56-39050 |
Apr 1981 |
JPX |
56-39052 |
Apr 1981 |
JPX |
1021329 |
Mar 1966 |
GBX |
1477726 |
Jun 1977 |
GBX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (2)
Entry |
Tafel, Ber., 22, pp. 1860-1865 (1889). |
Tafel, Ber., 40, pp. 2831-2841 (1907). |
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
147407 |
May 1980 |
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