Amino acid ornithine prodn. - by reacting (1)-acyl-(2)-alkoxy-pyrrolidine derivs. with hydrogen cyanide, ammonia and opt. carbon dioxide and hydrolysing the prod.

摘要

In prodn. of ornithine in the form of its salts, a 1-acyl-2-alkoxy-pyrrolidone of formula (I): (where R1 is H, 1-4C alkyl or phenyl; and R2 is 1-4C alkyl is reacted with at least equimolar amts. of HCN and NH3 or HCN, NH3 and CO2 in an aq. or aq.-alcoholic reaction medium at ca 70-150 degrees C (pref. ca 90-120 degrees C) under autogenic pressure, and the reaction prod. (an aminonitrile when CHN + NH3 is used or a hydantoin whcn HCN + NH3 + CO2 is used) is hydrolysed in a conventional manner. Ornithine is a component of the urea cycle in mammals. It is an intermediate for the amino acids citrulline and arginine. Arginine is useful in the treatment of hypospermia, hyperammonaemia and liver function disorders. Process uses readily accessible starting materials and does not give rise to byproducts which cause pollution.