Process for making glyphosate from n-phosphonomethyl- 2-oxazolidone

Abstract From the Canadian patent

The present invention relates to a process for the production of N-phosphonomethylglycine which comprises reacting an aqueous solution of N-phosphonomethyl-2oxazolidone so as to bring about hydrolysis of the oxazolidone group and formation of carbon dioxide. The reaction is continued till the oxazolidone has been converted to N-phosphonomethylethanolamine or the cyclic internal ester thereof and the carbon dioxide co-product is removed. Thereafter, the hydrolyzate is oxidized by adding a greater than one molar excess, after neutralization of acid groups in the phosphonomethyl group of an aqueous, alkali and a catalyst selected from cadmium copper, zinc, palladium and platinum and their …