N-Phenylglycine is an organic compound with the formula C6H5NHCH2CO2H. This white solid achieved fame as the industrial precursor to indigo dye.[1] It is a non-proteinogenic alpha amino acid related to sarcosine, but with an N-phenyl group in place of N-methyl.

Preparation

It is prepared by the Strecker reaction involving the reaction of formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide, and aniline. The resulting amino nitrile is hydrolyzed to give the carboxylic acid.[2]

Pfleger's historic synthesis of indigo using N-phenylglycine

See also

References

  1. ^ Helmut Schmidt (1997). "Indigo – 100 Jahre industrielle Synthese". Chemie in unserer Zeit. 31 (3): 121–128. doi:10.1002/ciuz.19970310304.
  2. ^ Elmar Steingruber "Indigo and Indigo Colorants" Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry 2004, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim. doi:10.1002/14356007.a14_149.pub2
No tags for this post.