INFRARED AND MASS SPECTRA OF a-AMINO ACID AMIDES

During the course of study for free amino acids composition of ladino clover seeds, three a-amino acid amides-L-tyrosine-amide, L-Ieucineamide and L-phenylalanineamide- were isolated from the basic amino acid fractionY In IR spectrum (KBr) of L-tyrosineamide hydrochloride, carbonyl stretching vibration (amide I) was observed at uncommonly high wave number (1705 em-i). IR spectra of leucine amide hydrochloride and phenylalanine amide hydrochloride could not be determined at that time because the amount of the isolated compounds was very small. All of three amides did not give M+ ion, but gave M+ + 1 ion in mass spectra. Little attention has been drawn on these unexpected matters. Therefore, this study was at-tempted to ascertain whether these two features are common for a-amino acid amides. These spectra data, if established, will be available for identi-fication of this kind of compounds. The following amino acid amide hydrochlorides were prepared from corresponding L-amino acid with conventional manners2) and their purit