N-acyl-2-amino acid amides containing phosphinic esters, process for their preparation, and n-acyl-2-amino acid nitriles as precursors

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Phosporus-containing N-acyl-2-amino acid amides of the general formula (I), (see formula I), where, R1 is alkyl optionally substituted by halogen or alkoxy or, is benzyl or phenyl, each of which is optionally substituted by alkyl, alkoxy, halogen, nitro or CF3 or is, cycloalkyl, and, R2 is H, or alkyl optionally substituted by halogen or, alkoxy or is (CH2)n-phenyl, optionally substituted in the phenyl ring by alkyl, alkoxy, halogen, nitro or CF3 where, n = 0, 1, 2 or 3, are valuable intermediates for the preparation of L-phosphinothricin by enzymatic cleavage and can be obtained, from the corresponding N-acyl-2-amino acid nitrile by selective acid hydrolysis.