Amino aldehydes have been included in this
study (FWF-project P6856)
to give a deeper insight into the factors that govern the
structure of amino acids. The idea was to compare three different
C systems:
HN-CH-CH-CH-OH,HN-CH-CH-CO-OH,
HN-CH-CH-CO-H.
Only the first two, 3-aminopropanol and -alanine, can form
intramolecular N···H-O hydrogen bonds, whereas the
latter two, -alanine
and 3-aminopropanal, have an amino- and a carbonyl group
in identical positions. In combination, the results for all three systems
should clearly identify the respective influences
of the N···H-O hydrogen bond and the carbonyl and/or
amino group.
This approach was so successful, that 3-aminopropanal remained the
only amino aldehyd in this series.
Highlights of the results of 3-aminopropanal
are presented on the next page, followed by a
comparison of this compound with -alanine. Each page contains several
illustrative pictures of relevant conformers.
Although most of the information is contained in the text, so that
a text-only browser is basically sufficient, these
pictures will help in understanding. Therefore, if your
browser can load pictures, you might want to turn that option on.
The bottom of each page provides links for
forward and backward browsing and, in the center entry,
an interface to the literature data base of the Institute of
Physical and Theoretical Chemistry. Activation of this interface
produces an up-to-date list of publications and theses that
relate to the specific topic.
systems:
N-CH
-alanine,
starting point of H-bond tour.
3-aminopropanal.
Quantum Chemistry Group.