Preparation of DL-Alanine by the Reaction of (+/-)-2-Chloropropionic Acid with Aqueous Ammonia under Pressure

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/bcsj.54.3605

The effects of experimental conditions (molar ratio of reactans, concentration, temperature, and pressure) on the yield of DL-alanine produced by the reaction of (+/-)-2-chloropropionic acid with aqueous ammonia have been studied.Molar ratio of NH3 : CH3CHClCO2H (ca. 10:1 ) much lower than that reported in the literature (68:1) can give a comparable yield (ca. 78 percent) by the reaction under pressure at 70 deg C for 5 h, a much shorter time than that reported in literature (over 96 h).Addition of ammonium carbonate does not increase the yield against the literature.