Preparation of L-α-Glycerophosphocholine from Natural Lecithin Catalyzed by Tert-Butylamine

Abstract

L-α-glycerophosphocholine, transesterification, tert-butylamine, natural lecithin Abstract. Tert-butylamine was confirmed as effective catayst for preparing L-α-glycerophospho -choline at mild conditions. The process using this catalyst would be much simpler, since the recovery of the catalyst can be combined with the recovery of methanol by distillation. The conversion of phosphatidylcholine could reach over 98% after 4 h, with a catalyst content of 2.4% under 60 °C. The mechanism of the methanolysis reaction was proposed and the experimental data fit the equation model well. GC was used to analyze the product, it was indicated that the product had high purity, and the catalyst could get similar effect to the fresh after repeatedly used.