The Associated Octel Company Limited

Clare Evans

Peter Michael Radley

Sarah E Worsley

The present invention provides a process for the preparation of a chelant or chelating agent complex of the formula L&bull;B&bull;M. L is an amino acid derivative including two optically active amino acids are linked via a (CH2) group, wherein the (CH2) group is attached to a nitrogen of each optically active amino acid, the optically active amino acid may be the same or different; and wherein n is an integer from 1 to 10; B is a base; and M is a metal. The process comprises the steps of (i) providing a reaction mixture comprising L and B and having a pH of less than 7.5; (ii) contacting the reaction mixture with M to provide a first complex mixture; and (iii) contacting the first complex mixture with a further amount of B to provide a second complex mixture. The second complex mixture can further be sequentially contacted with further amounts of M and further amounts of B. Alternatively, the second complex mixture can be heated.

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Moreton Wirral, United Kingdom

Clare Evans