429. β-Aminobutyric Acid

Nomenclature

CAS number: 541-48-0
3-Aminobutanoic acid; β-amino-n-butyric acid.
C4H9NO2; mol wt 103.12.
C 46.59%, H 8.80%, N 13.58%, O 31.03%.

Description and references

Prepd from pyrotartaric acid diamide: Weidel, Roithmer, Monatsh. Chem. 17, 185 (1896); from β-chlorobutyric acid ethyl ester and alcoholic NH3: Balbiano, Ber. 13, 312 (1880); from crotonic acid and concd NH3: Engel, Bull. Soc. Chim. [2] 50, 102 (1888); Curtius, Gumlich, J. Prakt. Chem. [2] 70, 204 (1904); Stadnikow, Chem. Zentralbl. 1909, II, 1988; see Fischer, Roeder, Ber. 34, 3755 (1901) footnote; Stoermer, Robert, Ber. 55, 1038 (1922). Prepn of HCl salt from β-aminobutyronitrile: Bruylants, Bull. Soc. Chim. Belg. 32, 259 (1923); Chem. Zentralbl. 1924, I, 1668. By reducing acetoacetic ester phenylhydrazone and saponifying the resulting ester: Fischer, Groh, Ann. 383, 338 (1911). The d()-form has been obtained by hydrolysis of its ester: Fischer, Scheibler, ibid. 346.

Chemical structure

Derivative

dl-Form.

Properties

Crystals from alcohol, mp 193-194°. Practically tasteless. Sol in water. One liter of water dissolves 1250 g. Insol in cold absolute alcohol and ether.

Derivative

Methyl ester.
C5H11NO2; mol wt 117.15.
C 51.26%, H 9.46%, N 11.96%, O 27.31%.

Properties

Odoriferous liquid; d20 0.993; bp13 54-55°. Sol in water, alcohol, ether, petr ether.

Derivative

d-Form.

Properties

Prisms from methanol. Dec near 220° without melting. [α]D20 35.20° (p = 10).