Abstract: | α-Amino-?-caprolactam (I), an intermediate for the synthesis of L-lysine, has been synthesized by BECKMANN -rearrangement of α-amino-cyclohexanoneoxime (XII) in concentrated sulfuric acid (13% yield) or oleum (34% yield). Cyclisation of α-amino-?-bromocaproamide hydrobromide (VIII) did not yield I but an isomer of I of unknown structure (compound X). Upon hydrolysis X gave a compound XI which was similar to lysine in its chromatographic and electrophoretic behavior. |