Preparation of Racemic Phenylethylamine
A process for the preparation of racemic phenylethylamine which comprises contacting an optical antipode therefore, e.g., L(-) or D(+)-1-phenylethylamine with sodium amide or sodium hydride. Claim: What is claimed is:
1. A process for preparing racemic 1-phenylethylamine which comprises contacting L(-)-1-phenylethylamine or D(+)-1-phenylethylamine with 0.01 to 1 weight percent, based on theamount of said phenylethylamine, of sodium amide or sodium hydride at a temperature of 70.degree. to 150.degree. C. for a period of time between 5 and 15 minutes. Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the preparation of racemic 1-phenylethylamine. More particularly, this invention is directed to the economic use of an optically active antipode of phenylethylamine and to a simple process for converting the same to theracemate whereby through resolution thereof the other optically active form can be readily prepared. This invention is particularly directed to the racemization of phenylethylamine by contacting an optically active form thereof with sodium amide orsodium hydride.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
The antipodes of 1-phenylethylamine are being used increasingly as resolving bases for racemization since phenylethylamine is synthesizable and can readily be resolved into its antipodes. In contrast to naturally occurring alkaloids theoptically active forms of 1-phenylethylamine can be provided in any desired amount for technical purposes.
In the racemization of synthetically prepared resolving bases, two antipodes are necessarily produced in equal amounts. However, it is largely only one resolving base that is needed for the racemization so that the other antipode is not neededat all. It is therefore necessary to re-racemize the antipodes of 1-phenylethylamine which are usually the necessary result of its production and to recycle them to the resolving process.
The racemization of optically active
1. A process for preparing racemic 1-phenylethylamine which comprises contacting L(-)-1-phenylethylamine or D(+)-1-phenylethylamine with 0.01 to 1 weight percent, based on theamount of said phenylethylamine, of sodium amide or sodium hydride at a temperature of 70.degree. to 150.degree. C. for a period of time between 5 and 15 minutes. Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the preparation of racemic 1-phenylethylamine. More particularly, this invention is directed to the economic use of an optically active antipode of phenylethylamine and to a simple process for converting the same to theracemate whereby through resolution thereof the other optically active form can be readily prepared. This invention is particularly directed to the racemization of phenylethylamine by contacting an optically active form thereof with sodium amide orsodium hydride.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
The antipodes of 1-phenylethylamine are being used increasingly as resolving bases for racemization since phenylethylamine is synthesizable and can readily be resolved into its antipodes. In contrast to naturally occurring alkaloids theoptically active forms of 1-phenylethylamine can be provided in any desired amount for technical purposes.
In the racemization of synthetically prepared resolving bases, two antipodes are necessarily produced in equal amounts. However, it is largely only one resolving base that is needed for the racemization so that the other antipode is not neededat all. It is therefore necessary to re-racemize the antipodes of 1-phenylethylamine which are usually the necessary result of its production and to recycle them to the resolving process.
The racemization of optically active