A method of synthesizing carboxylated amines is disclosed. The method comprises reacting a mixture of a potassium salt of either a primary or secondary amine with a potassium salt of a halogenated carboxylic acid wherein the halogenated carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of brominated, chlorinated, or iodinated carboxylic acid in the presence of potassium hydroxide, and optionally in heating the reacting mixture; precipitating the potassium salt by optionally chilling the mixture and discarding the precipitate; purifying the carboxylate amine potassium salt from the liquid phase using water soluble alcohol and optionally adding formic acid to obtain the free aminocarboxylic acid and potassium formate. In a preferred embodiment, the halogenated carboxylic acid is chloroacetic acid.