title: The kinetics of diastereomeric amino acids with o-phthaldialdehyde.
abstract: The kinetics of the reaction of the amino acid epimers L-isoleucine, D-allo-isoleucine, L-threonine, and D-allo-threonine with o-phthaldialdehyde and mercaptoethanol were determined at 25 degrees C. L-Isoleucine reacts faster than its D-epimer whereas L-threonine reacts slightly slower than its D-epimer. In the case of isoleucine, the consequence can be an allo/iso ratio which in the worst case is 25% too low if these amino acids are quantified by liquid chromatography and o-phthaldialdehyde fluorescence detection. The effect on dating of fossils by amino acid racemization is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramseyer
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D002845:Chromatography; D007700:Kinetics; D008623:Mercaptoethanol; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D009764:o-Phthalaldehyde
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D008623:Mercaptoethanol; D009764:o-Phthalaldehyde