I've tried many methods, but does not work. Perhaps it requires some special catalyst or condition? Any suggestions?
Hi,
Synthesis depends very much on the aldehyde you are using. It is also important to understand that the reaction is reversible for many amino acids and aldehydes.
Sodium hydroxide can be used to assist the reaction and push it in the product direction.
For example:-
In 50 ml round bottom flask attached with a reflux condenser, mix 1.06 g of benzaldehyde, (0.75g) of glycine and (0.4g) of sodium hydroxide. Add 20 ml of ethanol and the final mixture is refluxed for 3 hours. The mixture is cooled and filtered. Products are washed with cold ethanol and dried.
I hope this helps.
You could also try amino acid + NaOH (1:1) in just enough ethanol to dissolve all with stirring. Then add aldehyde. Stir and evaporate to half the volume. Add enough glacial acetic acid to neutralise NaOH plus a slight excess. No reflux. Leave for several hours and see if product crystallises.
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