Synthesis of DL-Lysine from 1,1,1,5-Tetrachloropentane

DL-Lysine was synthesized from 1,1,1,5-tetrachloropentane. The process involves seven steps; 1,1,5-trichloropentene-1 (92%), 1,1-dichloro-5-cyanopetene-1 (88%), 1,1-dichloro-6-aminohexene-1 (59%), 1,1-dichloro-6-phthaliminohexene-1 (96%), 2-chloro-6-phthaliminocaproic acid (95%), DL-lysine monohydrochloride (53%). The over-all yield from 1,1,1,5-tetrachloropentane to DL-lysine monohydrochloride was 23%. In the hydrogenation of 1,1-dichloro-5-cyanopentene-1 to 1,1-dichloro-6-aminohexene-1, the Raney cobalt was found to be a favorable catalyst for attacking the nitrile group selectively.