W. R. Grace Co.

E Richard Young

Patricia M Scanlon

Alkyl-substituted hydroxy benzyl amino acid oligomers are effective metal chelating agents in a broad range of non-aqueous systems. The products claimed display surprisingly high solubilities in a broad range of substituted and unsubstituted aliphatic and aromatic solvents.

Chelating agents for non-aqueous systems

The novel monomeric compound N-methyleneaminoacetonitrile is produced by reacting glycinonitrile with formaldehyde in the absence of ammonia. The process is conveniently carried out by forming aqueous glycinonitrile in situ using known methods, removing any excess ammonia from the reaction medium and then introducing at least an equimolar amount of formaldehdye. The reaction is allowed to proceed substantially to completion. The novel product has a higher melting point than the previously reported trimer.

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Nashua, NH, United States of America

E Richard Young