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

Abstract 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.