| abstract |
Novel compounds, N,N′-bis(phosphonomethyl)-N,N′-bis(hydroxycarbonylmethyl)urea and N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(hydroxycarbonylmethyl)urea, suitable for use in preparing N-acyl aminocarboxylic acids that can be readily converted to N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine are provided. The compounds may be formed by the reaction of bis-(phosophonomethyl)urea or urea respectively with carbon monoxide and formaldehyde in the presence of a carboxymethylation catalyst precursor and solvent. |