Abstract: In the process of hydrocarboxylating an .alpha.-enamide with CO and H.sub.2 O or an organic hydroxyl compound to produce an N-acyl-.alpha.-amino acid or ester, respectively, the improvement comprising using as the .alpha.-enamide reactant, an .alpha.-enamide which has a chiral center that is essentially all L or D, thereby producing a reaction mixture containing diastereomeric N-acyl-.alpha.-amino acids or esters having two chiral centers, said mixture having essentially no enantiomeric pairs.

Abstract: In solid form copper complex salts of the formula: ##STR1## wherein "n" is from 1 to 5, and "Z" is an anion and "y" is the number required to electrostatically balance the set.

Abstract: Amino acids can be purpified and/or concentrated by extracting aqueous mixtures such as fermentation broths by contacting an aqueous mixture containing amino acids with an organic solution containing a water insoluble extractant selected from the group consisting of:1. A quaternary ammonium ion having the formula: ##STR1## where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are aliphatic, each having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms, and together have a minimum of 25 carbon atoms, and where at least three of the four R groups are at least a C.sub.4.2. A quaternary phosphonium ion having the formula: ##STR2## where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are as defined above. 3. A tertiary sulfonium ion having the formula: ##STR3## where R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 each are aliphatic with from 1 to 22 carbon atoms, and together have a minimum of 24 carbons and where at least two of these groups are at least a C.sub.6.4. An organic boride ion having the formula: ##STR4## where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for recovery of amino acids from aqueous mixtures. In particular, it relates to a treatment of said amino acid containing aqueous mixture prior to extraction of the amino acid with a water immiscible organic solution containing a water insoluble extractant for said amino acid. The overall process of the invention which includes the pretreatment and extraction, also includes optional methods of recovering said extracted amino acid from the water immiscible organic solution. Accordingly, the invention also relates to a process for recovery of the amino acid by stripping of the amino acid from the organic solution and precipitation of the amino acid.

Abstract: A method for the production of substantially 100% pure N.alpha.-urethane protected amino acids is disclosed. This method eliminates the formation of di-peptide and tri-peptide contaminants. Reaction of blocking reagents at the carboxylate site on a protected peptide is prevented by the application of labile amino acid esters. Subsequent removal of the ester yields, in ultra-high purity, the N.alpha.-protected amino acid. The substantially 100% pure N.alpha.-urethane protected amino acid are also disclosed.

Abstract: In the process of hydrocarboxylating an .alpha.-enamide with CO and an organic hydroxyl compound to produce a N-acyl-.alpha.-amino acid ester, the improvement comprising using as the organic hydroxyl compound reactant, an organic hydroxyl compound which has a chiral center that is essentially all L or D, thereby producing a reaction mixture having essentially no enantiomeric pairs and containing diastereomeric N-acyl-.alpha.-amino acid esters having two chiral centers.

Abstract: Amino acids can be purified and/or concentrated by extracting aqueous mixtures such as fermentation broths by contacting an aqueous mixture containing amino acids with an organic solution containing a water insoluble extractant.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the preparation of free L .alpha.-amino acids by the complete conversion of their D antipodes taken individually or possibly in racemic mixtures.The process according to the present invention is characterized in that the D antipodes of an ester of said .alpha.-amino acid is racemized in the presence of a chemical catalyst formed by at least one aromatic aldehyde corresponding to the general formula: ##STR1## wherein: Ar represents an aromatic ring optionally containing a heteroatom, such as nitrogen, andB represents a basic function,to produce a mixture in dynamic equilibrium of the two forms D and L of said ester, the ester which is present in the L form is hydrolyzed enzymatically and irreversibly to produce the corresponding stereostable L .alpha.-amino acid, said stages of chemical racemization and of enzymatic hydrolysis being carried out under identical reaction conditions, and the free L .alpha.-amino acid is recovered.

Abstract: A method for the extraction of certain amino acids from aqueous solutions by contacting said solutions with various dithiophosphinates in conjunction with a polar diluent is disclosed.

Abstract: .alpha.-(S)-amino acid..alpha.-phenylethanesulfonate compounds and methods of optical resolution of .alpha.-amino acids and .alpha.-phenylethanesulfonic acids are described.

Abstract: A process for producing efficiently and economically without using strong acids nor strong bases, .alpha.-amino acids from .alpha.-amino acid amides by hydrolyzing .alpha.-amino acid amides in an aqueous medium in the presence of ammonia. If necessary, the resultant hydrolyzate liquid from which .alpha.-amino acid has been removed may be reused.

Abstract: Novel acetylenic derivatives of .alpha.-amino acids of the following general structure: ##STR1## wherein R is hydrogen, alkylcarbonyl wherein the alkyl moiety has from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and is straight or branched, alkoxycarbonyl wherein the alkoxy moiety has from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and is straight or branched, or ##STR2## is hydrogen, a straight or branched lower alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, benzyl or .rho.-hydroxybenzyl; each R.sub.1 is the same and is hydroxy, a straight or branched alkoxy group of from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, --NR.sub.3 R.sub.4 wherein each of R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is hydrogen or a lower alkyl group of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and can be the same or different, or ##STR3## wherein R.sub.5 is hydrogen, a straight or branched lower alkyl group of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, benzyl or .rho.-hydroxybenzyl; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and individual optical isomers thereof.

Abstract: A process for the chemical catalytic hydrolysis of an .alpha.-aminonitrile or of one of the salts thereof, characterized in that an aqueous solution containing at least one carbonyl derivative is reacted with the said .alpha.-amine nitrile or with one of the salts thereof in the presence of hydroxide ions.

Abstract: Novel acetylenic derivatives of .alpha.-amino acids of the following general structure: ##STR1## wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 3; R is hydrogen, alkylcarbonyl wherein the alkyl moiety has from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and is straight or branched, alkoxycarbonyl wherein the alkoxy moiety has from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and is straight or branched, or ##STR2## wherein R.sub.2 is hydrogen, a straight or branched lower alkyl group of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, benzyl or p-hydroxybenzyl; each R.sub.1 is the same and is hydroxy, a straight or branched alkoxy group of from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, --NR.sub.3 R.sub.4 wherein each of R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is hydrogen or a lower alkyl group of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and can be the same or different, of ##STR3## wherein R.sub.5 is hydrogen, a straight or branched lower alkyl group of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, benzyl or p-hydroxybenzyl; and the lactams thereof when n is 2 or 3; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and individual optical isomers thereof.

Abstract: In the process for preparing an organic compound of the formulaA' -- Xin whichX is an amino group, a hydroxyl group or a carboxyl group, andA' is the remainder of the molecule, from an organic compound of the formulaA -- Xin whichA is the remainder of the molecule which can undergo reaction to form A', by converting A -- X into a compound of the formulaA -- Z -- COORin whichZ is --NH--, --O-- or a direct C--C bond, andR is a radical of the formula ##STR1## IN WHICH Y is a direct C--C single bond, the --CH.dbd.CH-- group or an arylene group,R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 each independently is hydrogen, halogen or an alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl, arylaminocarbonyl or cycloalkylaminocarbonyl radical, orR.sup.1 + r.sup.2 and R.sup.3 + R.sup.4 each independently completes a 5- or 6-membered carbocyclic ring, orR.sup.1 and R.sup.