DE2558743

Amino acis of the formula NH3(CH2CH2)n CH2COOH, (I) (where n is 1 or 2) are prepd. by (a) telomerising ethylene with methyl esters of haloacetic acids of the formula XmCH3-mCOOH3 (II) (where either X is Cl and m is 2 or 3 or X is Br and m is 1) at 100-145 degrees C and an ethylene pressure of 25-40 atom. gauge in the presence of a free radical initiator to produce telemeters of the formula CH3OOC. CH3-mXm-1 (CH2CH2)nX, (III) and, when X is Cl, reducing to (III m=1) (b) reacting with NH3 at 135-140 degrees C or, when X is Br, directly reacting (III) with NH3 at 100 degrees C; (c) in either case, hydrolysing the ammonolysis products at 80-90 degrees C and (d) recovering the products from the hydrolysate by use of a styrene-divinyl benzene sulphocationite resin in the H form. (I) are used for treating functional disorders of the central nervous system and in surgery. They also have use as polymerisation promoters and a intermediates in biochemical syntheses. Process is simple and gives high yields. E.g. gamma-aminobutyric acid is obtd. from methyl bromoacetate.