Amino Acids Synthesis

BOC Sciences synthesizes a wide range of compounds such as amino acids, heterocyclic compounds, lipids, carbohydrates and peptides on a customized scale. Our R&D synthesis team is well versed in new route design and route optimization, and has extensive experience in organic synthesis, resulting in a high project success rate.

Fig 1. Formation of glycine. (Koga et al., 2022)

What are Amino Acids?

Amino acids are organic compounds containing basic amino groups (-NH₂) and acidic carboxyl groups (-COOH), and are an important class of nitrogen-containing compounds. It is the basic building block of biologically functional macromolecules, proteins, giving them a specific molecular structural form and making them biochemically active. The following are common methods for synthesizing amino acids.

• Erlenmeyer synthesis

Erlenmeyer synthesis method refers to the α-acylamino acetic acid in the presence of acetic acid or acetic anhydride, sodium acetate, to generate azlactone intermediate, due to the intermediate oxazolone ring on the methylene group by the neighboring carbonyl group affects the H has a certain degree of acidity, in the action of alkali and aldehyde condensation, and then reduction, hydrolysis to obtain a-amino acids.

• Malonate synthesis

Malonate synthesis method includes two kinds: (1) halogenated malonate synthesis method. By applying halogenated malonate and phthalimide, various α-amino acids can be synthesized. (2) acetamidomalonate synthesis. Malonate is first nitrosated to produce oxime malonate, and then reduced to produce acetylaminomalonate. Then under the action of sodium alcohol and haloalkanes to generate a-substituted acetamidomalonate, and finally alkaline hydrolysis, acidification to get a-amino acids.

• Phase transfer catalyzed synthesis

In the presence of an alkaline, phase-transfer catalyst, Schiff bases generated from aldehydes and amines can be alkylated with haloalkanes to obtain amino acids.

Amino Acids Synthesis Services

• Amino acid customization

Amino acids with specific structures can be synthesized by selecting specific synthesis means according to customer needs. Chemical synthesis can be used to build the backbone of an amino acid through organic synthesis reactions and introduce specific functional groups at the desired positions.

• Amino acid modification

Amino acid modification can be accomplished through chemical synthesis by introducing specific groups to give the amino acid new properties or functions. Common modifications include: (1) Hydroxylation modification. Hydroxyl groups can be introduced into the amino acid molecule to give it hydrophilicity and increase hydrolysis. (2) Phosphorylation modification. Phosphate groups can be introduced for signaling and regulation. (3) Methylation modification. Methylation can be used in epigenetic regulation and can alter protein stability, interactions. (4) Acetylation modification. Acetylation modification of amino acids can affect their activity and biological functions. (5) Glycosylation modification. Glycosylation modification of amino acids can affect their recognition and immunogenicity. (6) Nitrification modification. Nitrification modification of amino acids can affect their signaling and regulatory effects.

• Introduction of non-natural amino acids

Our chemical synthesis team can also introduce non-natural amino acids into the amino acid synthesis process, thereby expanding the structural space of amino acids and providing new functions and properties.

BOC Sciences has a proven amino acid synthesis process that allows us to quickly and efficiently design synthesis protocols based on customized amino acid sequences and start synthesizing them quickly, providing our customers with what they need faster and better is our constant insistence. If you would like to have a customized amino acid synthesis, please keep in touch with us.