The present invention provides an organic amine salt of monatin, or
crystal form thereof, and its application as well as a method for
resolving the stereoisomers of monatin by forming its salt. The present
invention further provides a salt form of monatin that is useful as a
sweetening agent or as the active ingredient of a sweetener. The present
invention also provides a method for preparing a salt of a particular
stereoisomer of monatin with an organic amine by utilizing the difference
of crystallinity or solubility of the salt of the stereoisomer of monatin
with the organic amine. The present invention also relates to a use of
the salt in a method for preparing a metal salt of monatin in which the
organic amine is replaced by a metal such as sodium, potassium, or the
like.
