Method for a convenient and efficient synthesis of amino acid acrylic monomers with zwitterionic structure

Ampholyte monomers with zwitterionic moiety derived from α-amino acid, that is, L-lysine and L-serine, were obtained using a method in which their copper complexes could be produced in simple steps. The N-acryloylation of L-lysine and L-serine was carried out by reaction between their copper complexes and acryloyl chloride. Specifically, the removal of copper from the copper complex of acryloyl amino acid through the use of 8-hydroxyquinoline as an organic chelate precipitant increased the yield of the ampholyte monomers with zwitterionic moiety. These syntheses were easily carried out in a three-step procedure.