PRODUCTION OF N-LONG CHAIN ACYLAMINO ACID OR ITS SALT

PURPOSE:To obtain an N-long chain acylamino acid good in hue, as e.g. a low-irritant activator in high purity in an industrially high production efficiency, by reaction of a specific distilled fatty acid chloride with an aminonitrile in the presence of a basic substance. CONSTITUTION:A reaction is conducted between (A) a fatty acid chloride of formula I [R CO is a 8-22C (un)saturated fatty acid residue] and (B) an aminonitrile of formula II (R is H or a 1-3C alkyl; R is a 1-5C alkylene) in the presence of a basic substance to produce an amidonitrile of formula III, which is then hydrolyzed in the presence of a basic substance to obtain the objective compound of formula IV (M is a cation). In this case, the component A is a fatty acid chloride prepared by reaction of (1) phosphorus trichloride with (2) a fatty acid followed by distilling the reaction product. It is preferable that, instead of the component (1), (3) carbonyl chloride be used, and the basic substance be a hydroxide or (bi)carbonate of an alkali(alkaline earth) metal.