Process for preparing creatine, creatine monohydrate or guanidinoacetic acid

摘要

A process for producing creatine, creatine monohydrate or guanidinoacetic acid is proposed, wherein firstly N-methylethanolamine or ethanolamine is catalytically dehydrogenated in each case in alkaline solution and the sarcosinate or glycinate solutions that are obtained in this manner are finally reacted under acidic conditions with a guanylating agent such as for example O-alkylisourea or cyanamide. In this manner products are obtained in high yields and very good purity where in contrast to the prior art no traces whatsoever of hydrocyanic acid, formaldehyde, chloroacetic acid or ammonia are present. The formation of the toxicologically critical dihydrotriazine is also avoided.