Toluene → L-Phenylalanine, methyl ester

Participants

Reaction Steps

A 0.2 molar solution phenylalanine methyl ester in 10 milliliters of water was prepared. Toluene was added and the pH of the system adjusted to 7.0 with sodium hydroxide. Chymotrypsin in the amount of 1 milligram was added. The concentration of phenylalanine in the aqueous phase was monitored. The initial concentration was 0.05 molar and the final concentration at the end of the hydrolysis was 0.15 molar, consistent with only one isomer being extracted.

Provenance & Evidence