Strecker degradation

The Strecker degradation is a chemical reaction which converts an α-amino acid into an aldehyde by an imine intermediate. It is named after Adolph Strecker, a German chemist.

The original observation by Strecker involved the use of alloxan as the oxidant:[1]

The reaction can take place using a variety of organic and inorganic reagents.[2]

References

  1. ^ Strecker, A (1862). "Notiz über eine eigenthümliche Oxydation durch Alloxan". Annalen der Chemie 123 (2): 363–365. doi:10.1002/jlac.18621230312. 
  2. ^ Schonberg, Alexander; Moubacher, Radwan (1952). "The Strecker Degradation of α-Amino Acids". Chem. Rev. 50 (2): 261–277. doi:10.1021/cr60156a002.