Question

Devise a synthesis of each amino acid from acetaldehyde:

(a) Glycine;

(b) Alanine.

Short answer

Amino acid plays a vital role in body functions such as tissue repairing, digesting food, and enzyme formation.It is a white crystalline solid that dissolves in water.

Step-by-step solution

Amino acid

Amino acid plays a vital role in body functions such as tissue repairing, digesting food, and enzyme formation.It is a white crystalline solid that dissolves in water.

Synthesis of amino acid

(a) When acetaldehyde is treated with bromine followed by acetic acid, it gives acetyl bromide. Acetyl bromide is then treated with ${\mathrm{CrO}}_3$followed by sulphuric acid, and it gives bromoacetic acid which on further treatment with excess of ${\mathrm{NH}}_3$forms glycine.

(b) When acetaldehyde is treated with ammonium chloride and sodium cyanide, followed by hydrolysis, alanine is formed.