Spectropolarimetry II. The optical rotatory dispersion of α‐amino‐acids and α‐hydroxy‐acids

Abstract

Abstract The rotatory dispersion of 26 amino‐acids and 5 hydroxy‐acids was studied. It was found that the carboxyl absorption‐band at about 205 nm to 210 nm is optically active. L‐Amino‐acids as well as L‐hydroxy‐acids show a positive Cotton effect. For a number of amino‐acids a correlation exists between peak‐height and molecular structure. Except for proline, hydroxy‐proline and cystine, all acids studied show very similar rotatory dispersion curves.