Systematic pH Study on the Acid- and Base-Catalyzed Racemization of Free Amino Acids To Determine the Six Constants, One for Each of the Three Ionic Species

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja00283a030

Computer analysis of pH profiles for racemization of four amino acids at 142 deg C led to the determination of the six absolute rate constants, one for each ionic species of amino acid in aqueoussolution catalyzed by hydronium and hydroxide ions.A comparison is made to show the effect of using all six constants to express the observed rate constants, as opposed to using only four in previous studies.The analyses also allowed the calculation of amino acid pK_a values at elevated temperatures.