Question

From which amino acid is 2-phenylethanol derived and what chemical changes take place in the conversion?

Short answer

• 2-phenylethanol is derived from phenylalanine.
• Deamination and reduction of carboxylate group to hydroxide are the chemical changes that take place in the conversion.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1: Deductions of amino acid from the name and structure of 2-phenylethanol

The name 2-phenylethanol and the structure shows that the molecule has a phenyl group, an aromatic substituent consisting of a benzene ring with no substituents.Phenylalanine is the only amino acid with a phenyl group.

Conversion of phenylalanine to 2-phenyl ethanol

Two modifications are required to convert phenylalanine to 2-phenyl ethanol:

1.Deaminationis required to remove the amino group from the amino acid.

2. Thecarboxylate groupmust be converted tohydroxide.

The reactions of formation of phenylalanine to 2-phenyl ethanol are given below:

Hence, 2-phenyl ethanol is derived from phenylalanine, and the conversion process involves the deamination and reduction of the carboxylate group to hydroxide.