Process for the electrochemical synthesis of N-acetylcysteine from cystine

Abstract

The process comprises: (A) obtainment of N-acetyl-cysteine from L-cystine, by means of the following steps: (i) acetylation of L-cystine to produce N-acetyl-cystine; (ii) electroreduction and desalination by electrodialysis of the N-acetyl-cystine thus produced to give N-acetyl-cysteine; or (B) obtainment of N-acetyl-cysteine from L-cystine, by means of the following steps: (i) acetylation and desalination of L-cystine to produce N-acetyl-cystine; (ii) electroreduction of N-acetyl-cystine which may or may not come from the preceding step (i) to produce N-acetyl-cysteine; (C) obtainment of N-acetyl-cysteine from L-cystine by means of the following steps: (i) electroreduction of L-cystine to produce L-cysteine; (ii) acetylation and desalination by electrodialysis of L-cysteine, which may or may not come from the preceding step (i) to produce N-acetyl-cysteine. The N-acetyl-cysteine thus obtained has important uses in the pharmaceutical sector.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.