Nitrenium ions in N‐chloro‐α‐amino acids decomposition?

Abstract

Abstract This article deals with the kinetics of decomposition of four isomers: NCl‐(L)‐2‐Aminohexanoic acid, NCl‐(L)‐Leucine, NCl‐(L)‐Isoleucine, and NCl‐(L)‐ tert ‐Leucine, in mild acid and basic aqueous solution. An alternative mechanism for this process which takes place through a nitrenium‐like ion transition state is proposed. This mechanism is in consonance with the experimental data and with those available from the literature. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.