Abstract
Copper(I) oxide was found to be an excellent initiator for the racemization of alanine in alkaline aqueous solutions. The rate studies indicate that copper(I) oxide itself is not a catalyst for the racemization but is a precatalyst producing real racemization catalysts in the reaction system. The real catalytic system for racemization was found to consist of acetaldehyde and copper(II) ions. Acetaldehyde and copper(II) ions were produced by the oxidation of alanine and copper(I) oxide with oxygen in air, respectively. The function of copper(I) oxide is considered to produce oxidants by reaction with oxygen, which effects the oxidation of alanine.
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