The Formylation of Amino Acids with Acetic Formic Anhydride

The formylation of amino acids with acetic formic anhydride has been studied. This anhydride is prepared by the reaction of acetyl chloride with sodium formate or, preferably, from ketene and formic acid. When various monoamino monocarboxylic acids are treated with acetic formic anhydride by a simple procedure and under mild conditions, N-formylamino acids were obtained in satisfactory yields.