Improved process for deprotection of n-formyl protected amines

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for converting an N-formyl-protected amine to the corresponding deprotected amine characterized in that the N-formyl-protected amine is deprotected by decomposition of the formyl group to carbon dioxide and hydrogen in the presence of water and a dehydrogenation catalyst and at a temperature in the range from 10 to 300° C. This method can be employed for efficient deprotection of N-formyl protected amino alcohol intermediates within the process for preparing amino alcohols starting from N-formyl protected amino nitriles by reductive hydrolysis of the nitrile function followed by a deprotection of the N-formyl protected amino alcohol intermediate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.