Abstract: A method of making (.+-.)-3-(aminomethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid that comprises condensing isovaleraldehyde with ##STR1## to form primarily ##STR2## reacting the ##STR3## with a cyanide source to form ##STR4## decarboxylating the ##STR5## to form ##STR6## hydrolyzing the ##STR7## with an alkali or alkaline earth metal hydroxide to form an alkali or alkaline earth metal carboxylate salt; and hydrogenating the alkali or alkaline earth metal carboxylate salt to form (.+-.)-3-(aminomethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid, wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different and are hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, aryl, benzyl, or C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl. The present invention also provides a method of making (.+-.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making (S)-(+)-3-(aminomethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid which comprises condensing isovaleraldehyde with an alkyl cyanoacetate to form a 2-cyano-5-methylhex-2-enoic acid alkyl ester; reacting the 2-cyano-5-methylhex-2-enoic acid alkyl ester with a dialkyl malonate to form 3-isobutylglutaric acid; forming the anhydride of 3-isobutylglutaric acid; reacting the anhydride with ammonia to form (.+-.)-3-(carbamoylmethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid; reacting (.+-.)-3-(carbamoylmethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid with (R)-(+)-.alpha.-phenylethylamine to obtain the (R)-(+)-.alpha.-phenylethylamine salt of (R)-(-)-3-(carbamoylmethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid; combining the salt with an acid to obtain (R)-(-)-3-(carbamoylmethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid; and reacting the (R)-(-)-3-carbamoylmethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid with a Hofmann reagent to obtain (S)-(+)-3-(amino-methyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making (S)-(+)-3-(aminomethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid which comprises condensing isovaleraldehyde with an alkyl cyanoacetate to form a 2-cyano-5-methylhex-2-enoic acid alkyl ester; reacting the 2-cyano-5-methylhex-2-enoic acid alkyl ester with a dialkyl malonate to form 3-isobutylglutaric acid; forming the anhydride of 3-isobutylglutaric acid; reacting the anhydride with ammonia to form (.+-.)-3-(carbamoylmethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid; reacting (.+-.)-3-(carbamoylmethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid with (R)-(+)-.alpha.-phenylethylamine to obtain the (R)-(+)-.alpha.-phenylethylamine salt of (R)-(-)-3-(carbamoylmethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid; combining the salt with an acid to obtain (R)-(-)-3-(carbamoylmethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid; and reacting the (R)-(-)-3-carbamoylmethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid with a Hofmann reagent to obtain (S)-(+)-3-(aminomethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid.