Compounds of Amino Acids and Neutral Salts

Abstract

In this chapter we present salts composed of amino acids combined with inorganic cations and anions. These salts generally contain amino acids in neutral, i.e., zwitterionic form, with the charges balanced by the cations and anions. However, some of the phases resented here contain cations, anions, and amino acids, but the amino acids are not in neutral form, as, e.g., glycinate− Cu2+(NO3)− or (betainium+)2 Cu2+Cl− 4·H2O, but for reasons of similarity, they are included in this chapter. The variation of salts (and thus the number of species) is even greater as for salts of amino acids and cations, as a multitude of combinations of amino acids, cations, and anions is possible. Additionally, different hydration states are often found, as well as different ratios of components. Thus, there are several instances of systems containing more than one phase (e.g., the system glycine–zinc–chloride–water). Despite the greater variation, many coordination patterns found in the salts described in the previous chapter recur in the salts reported here. Likewise, the connectivities of units are similar as those found in salts of amino acids and cations. Instances of materials with noteworthy physical properties are presented.