From this extract, SWIM isn't so sure that PPA can be made by heating bezh with alanine.....
Abstract
The Akabori reaction (I) (C.A. 41, 3774g) on BzH and dl-MeCH(NHMe)CO2H (II) with and without pyridine and removal of the unreacted BzH by steam distn. gave dl-ephedrine and dl-y-ephedrine. Similarly, direct heating of piperonal and II gave 2 dl-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-methylamino-1-propanols. A new reaction (III), differing from I, takes place on heating BzH and DL-alanine directly; PhCH2NH2, PhCH(OH)CHPhNH2 (2 dl-compds.), AcH, and CO2 are formed. It is considered that the I-type reaction occurs when the N of the amino acid is secondary and the III-type reaction when it is primary.
What the heck is PhCH(OH)CHPhNH2 anyway? 1,2 biphenyl, ethanolamine? Or--- is this a mistake? And what is Ach?
Is there any evidence that the Akabori reactin will work with (non-N-methylated) alanine??
Aside--- N-methyl alanine could be made from 2-Br-propionic acid by the SN2 displacement by methylamine. The 2-bromopropionic acid is made easily from alanine (SWIM knows this one for sure). Whew.. This is getting to be a lot of work..
xoxo
Julia