Process for the preparation of N-(.alpha.-alkoxyethyl)-carboxylic acid amides
AssigneeHoechst Aktiengesellschaft
InventorsMichael Mitzlaff, Horst Schnabel
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Abstract
N-(.alpha.-alkoxyethyl)-carboxylic acid amides of the ##EQU1## where R.sup.1 is H or lower alkyl and R.sup.2 is lower alkyl, are prepared by anodic alkoxylation of a N-acyl-.alpha.-aminopropionic acid neutralized at a rate of from 3 to 50 mole % with an alcohol R.sup.2 OH. The compounds are valuable intermediate products for the preparation of N-vinylcarboxylic acid amides which may be converted to water-soluble polymers having multiple technological properties.
Claims11
A process for the preparation of N-(.alpha.-alkoxyethyl)-carboxylic acid amides which comprises partially neutralizing an N-acyl-.alpha.-aminopropionic acid to convert from 3 to 50 mole % of the acid groups thereof to alkali metal salt groups, preparing an alcoholic solution of said partially neutralized N-acyl-.alpha.-aminopropionic acid and electrolyzing said solution to convert said partially neutralized N-acyl-.alpha.-aminopropionic acid into an N-(.alpha.-alkoxyethyl)-carboxylic acid amide.
A process for making an N-(.alpha.-alkoxyethyl)-carboxylic acid amide of the formula ##EQU4## wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen or lower alkyl and R.sup.2 is lower alkyl, which comprises forming a solution in an alcohol of the formula R.sup.2 OH wherein R.sup.2 is as defined above, of a partially neutralized N-acyl-.alpha.-aminopropionic acid of the formula ##EQU5## wherein R.sup.1 is as defined above, said N-acyl-.alpha.-aminopropionic acid being partially neutralized by conversion of 3 to 50 mole % of the carboxyl groups thereof to alkali metal salt groups, the molar ratio of partially neutralized N-acyl-.alpha.-aminopropionic acid to said alcohol being from 1:2 to 1:50, and electrolyzing said partially neutralized N-acyl-.alpha.-aminopropionic acid in an electronic cell containing static electrodes and a stagnant or flowing electrolyte to produce said alkoxyethyl carboxylic acid amide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.