Chapter 27: Amino Acids, Peptides and Proteins

Reactions of Amino Acids

• Amino acids contain two functional groups : amines and carboxylic acids.
• So amino acids undergo the reactions characteristic of those functional groups: review amines ? review carboxylic acids ?
• The most important reactions are fair as amino acid chemistry is concerned are the reactions that are utilised in the formation of peptides and proteins.
• The reaction with ninhydrin is used as a visual indicator as a there is a colour change (primary amines give a blue/purple product)

Amines : acylation to form amides
Carboxylic acids : esterification
Ninhydrin test

© Dr. Ian Hunt, Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary