Akabori Amino Acid Reactions

S. Akabori, J. Chem. Soc. Jpn. 52, 606 (1931); Ber. 66, 143, 151 (1933); J. Chem. Soc. 64, 608 (1943).

1. Formation of aldehydes by oxidative decomposition of α-amino acids when heated with sugars according to the equation:

2. Reduction of α-amino acids and esters by sodium amalgam and ethanolic hydrogen chloride to the corresponding α-amino aldehydes:

3. Formation of alkamines by heating mixtures of aromatic aldehydes and amino acids. No reaction was observed with tertiary amino groups.

E. Takagi et al., J. Pharm. Soc. Jpn. 71, 648 (1951); 72, 812 (1952); A. Lawson, H. V. Morley, J. Chem. Soc. 1955, 1695; A. Lawson, ibid. 1956, 307; K. Dose, Ber. 90, 1251 (1957); V. N. Belikov et al., Izv. Akad. Nauk SSSR Ser. Khim. 1969, 2536.