INVESTIGATIONS ON THE REACTION OF AMINO-ACIDS WITH ALPHA-DICARBONYL COMPOUNDS .1. REACTIVITY OF AMINO-ACIDS IN THE REACTION WITH ALPHA-DICARBONYL COMPOUNDS

Mixtures of amino acids were reacted with a-dicarbonyl compounds and the degradation rates were determined. The basic and hydroxy amino acids reacted strongly, the acidic and nonpolar amino acids less so. Variation of the reaction conditions as well as comparing the pk-values of the a-amino groups with the degradation rates showed that mainly substituents on the a-carbon atom and further functional groups were responsible for the reactivity of the amino acids. © 1979 Springer-Verlag.