445. α-Aminoisobutyric Acid

Nomenclature

CAS number: 62-57-7
2-Methylalanine; 2-aminoisobutyric acid; 2-amino-2-methylpropanoic acid.
C4H9NO2; mol wt 103.12.
C 46.59%, H 8.80%, N 13.58%, O 31.03%.

Description and references

Prepd by the treatment of acetone with hydrocyanic acid and then with alcoholic ammonia (Strecker synthesis): Tiemann, Friedlnder, Ber. 14, 1970 (1881), see also p 1965; Marckwald et al., Ber. 24, 3283 (1891); Bailey, Randolph, Ber. 41, 2507 (1908); Clarke, Bean, Org. Synth. coll. vol. II, 29 (1943); or directly with ammonium cyanide: Gulewitsch, Ber. 33, 1900 (1900) or with a mixture of KCN and NH4Cl: Zelinsky, Stadnikow, Ber. 39, 1726 (1906); cf. Hellsing, Ber. 37, 1921 (1904); and subsequent hydrolysis of the nitrile formed. By heating dimethylhydantoin (obtained from acetone, hydrocyanic and cyanic acids) with concd HCl: Urech, Ann. 164, 268 (1872), cf. Heilpern, Monatsh. Chem. 17, 241 (1896).

Chemical structure

Properties

Monoclinic prisms, tables, mp 335° (sealed capillary). Begins to sublime at 280°. Sweetish taste. Absorption spectrum: Ley, Arends, Ber. 61, 219 (1928); Abderhalden, Rossner, Z. Physiol. Chem. 176, 253 (1928). Freely sol in water. Difficultly sol in alcohol; insol in ether.

Derivative

Hydrochloride.
C4H9NO2.HCl; mol wt 139.58.
C 34.42%, H 7.22%, N 10.03%, O 22.93%, Cl 25.40%.

Properties

Platelets from water, dec 236-237°. Readily sol in water, methanol, alcohol.