General procedure for the synthesis of (S)-2-amino-3-hydroxypropionamide hydrochloride from L-serine methyl ester hydrochloride: 3.5 g (0.0225 mol) of L-serine methyl ester hydrochloride was dissolved in 100 mL of ammonia and the reaction was stirred for 48 hours at room temperature. Upon completion of the reaction, the ammonia was removed by distillation under reduced pressure, and a small amount of dilute hydrochloric acid was added to the residue to dissolve it, followed by freeze-drying of the solution to give 2.8 g of a light yellow solid product, L-serine hydrochloride, in 87.5% yield.
