Oxidation of the Amino Acids: Ii. Alanine and Tyrosine

Two grams of Kahlbaum’s alanine dissolved in 50 cc. of water were oxidized with 500 cc. of a solution containing 10.8 grams of potassium permanganate and 37.0 grams of potassium hydroxide (30 molecules). Vigorous oxidation took place at once and the temperature of the mixture rose to 37” C. After standing for forty-eight hours at room temperature complete decolorization had taken place; the products of oxidation were then isolated and quantitatively determined by the methods previously described. From the above mentioned 2 grams of alanine I obtained 1.45 grams of carbon dioxide, 0.37 gram of ammonia, 1.9 grams of oxalic acid melting at lOlo and volatile acids equivalent to 10 cc. of decinormal sodium hydroxide. The volatile acid fraction was found on the application of qualitative tests to consist of a mixture of acetic and nitric acids. Regarding the intermediate products it would seem most probable that the greater part of the alanine on oxidation with alkaline