| abstract |
Glycine-N, N-diacetic acid derivatives are prepared by reacting corresponding 2-substituted glycines, 2-substituted glycinonitriles, doubled glycines, or precursors of the glycine derivatives with formaldehyde and alkali metal cyanide. The reaction is conducted in an aqueous medium at a pH of 8 to 14. From 0, 5 to 30% of the amount of alkali metal cyanide required for the reaction are added to the glycine derivatives or precursors thereof Subsequently, the remaining amount of alkali metal cyanide and the formaldehyde are simultaneously metered in over a period of from 0.5 to 12 hours. |