Question

Aspartame, the artificial sweetener marketed under the name NutraSweet, is a methyl ester of a dipeptide. The structure of aspartame is

a. What two amino acids are used to prepare aspartame?

b. There is concern that methanol may be produced by the decomposition of aspartame. From what portion of the molecule can methanol be produced? Write an equation for this.

Short answer

(a) Aspartic acid and phenylalanine form this dipeptide.

(b) Hydrolysis will produce methanol from methyl ester

Step-by-step solution

To find the two amino acids

This dipeptide is made of aspartic acid and phenylalanine. It is important to highlight that the methyl group in phenylalanine is not a part of phenylalanine.

Hence aspartic acid and phenylalanine form this dipeptide.

To write an Equation

Methyl ester is the weakest part of the molecule and it can be easily hydrolysed. The products willbe dipeptide (containing aspartic acid and phenylalanine) and methanol.

Hence Hydrolysis will produce methanol from methyl ester.