The large scale synthesis of amino acids: So which catalyst is best?

ORGN 274

David J Ager, david.ager@dsm.com, DSM, PMB 150, 9650 Strickland Road Suite 103, Raleigh, NC 27615
There are many ways to prepare alpha amino acids. Often the “best” method depends upon the scale of production. A number of approaches used by DSM will be described. These range from the use of dynamic kinetic resolutions, so that there is no waste stream from the “wrong” isomer, to enzymatic methods where the coupling of two or more transformations also allow for both isomers of a substrate to be converted the desired isomer of the amino acid. In addition, asymmetric hydrogenation allows for a rapid method to prepare alpha amino acids, especially when the catalyst system can be found by a high-throughput experimentation protocol.