Process for preparation of a mixture of methyl glycine diacetic acid (MGDA) or its respective mono-, di-, trialkali metal salt or its respective mono-, di- or tri-ammonium salt or mixtures thereof, and glutamic acid diacetic acid (GLDA) or its respective mono-, di-, tri-, or tetra-alkali metal or mono-, di-, tri- or tetra-ammonium salt or mixtures thereof, wherein said process com-prises the steps of: (a) dissolution in water of (a1) alanine in its L- or D-enantiomeric form or its respective monoalkali metal salt or mixtures thereof, and (a2) glutamic acid as L- or D-enantiomer or its respective mono-, or dialkali metal or mixtures thereof, wherein the molar ratio of alanine to glutamic acid is in the range of from 1:9 to 9:1, (b) converting the mixture obtained in step (a) with formaldehyde and hydrocyanic acid or alkali metal cyanide to the corresponding dinitriles, (c) saponification of the dinitriles resulting from step (b).

This invention relates to a process for producing cyanoacetates using asparagine as a precursor to cyanoacetamide, a staring material to form the cyanoacetates.

This invention relates to a process for producing cyanoacetates using asparagine as a precursor to cyanoacetamide, a staring material to form the cyanoacetates.