Abstract A mild and efficient method for the monocarboxymethylation of primary amines that takes place under aqueous conditions at room temperature is described. Treatment of an aqueous solution of a variety of primary amines with two equivalents of glyoxylic acid leads to the N-formyl glycine derivatives. Direct hydrolysis of the crude reaction solution leads to the products of amine monocarboxymethylation in good to excellent yield.
