Here,
we explored
in detail an acid-catalyzed condensation of glyoxylic
acid or its ethyl ester with several carboxamides of different basicity,
or with mesyl amide, to furnish diaminoacetic acid derivatives. The
most suitable synthesis conditions and the reaction catalysts were
identified. Properties such as structure and basicity of the starting
amides were demonstrated to influence the condensation process. Elemental
iodine was used for the first time herein as an acid catalyst for
the condensation of glyoxylic acid or its ester, which gave access
to diaminoacetic acid derivatives in higher yields in most cases,
as opposed to p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA). An abnormally high activity
of mesyl amide when condensed with ethyl glyoxylate was noticed, which
may evidence a special impact of the sulfonyl moiety in the amide
molecule on the condensation.