The Formation of Amino Acids by the Reactions of Singlet NH with Several Carboxylic Acids

Abstract

Abstract The photolysis of hydrogen azide was studied in liquid acetic acid, propionic acid, and isobutyric acid at room temperature. The formation of amino acids was confirmed by the color reactions with ninhydrin and with chromotropic acid and by the NMR spectra. From the propionic acid, α- and β-alanine were formed in the ratio of 1.5. In the case of isobutyric acid, α- and β-aminoisobutyric acids were formed in the ratio of about 5. These results are explained by the insertion reaction of NH(a1Δ) into the C–H bonds of carboxylic acids.