Process for manufacturing a glutamic acid derivative and a pyroglutamic acid derivative and a novel intermediate in the manufacture thereof

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A method of manufacturing a glutamic acid derivative typically monatin, in which a 4-protected hydroxyl pyroglutamic acid derivative is alkylated by an alkylating agent to prepare a 4-protected hydroxyl-4-alkylglutamic acid derivative, followed by the steps of hydrolyzing it and deprotecting its protecting groups. The 4-protected hydroxyl pyroglutamic acid derivative is easy to produce from hydroxyproline. The 4-protected hydroxyl pyroglutamic acid derivative is particularly suitable for use in the efficient manufacture of monatin of high optical purity since it can , be alkylated selectively at the 4-position and stereoselectively and after its alkylation it can easily be , …