Unequivocal structure assignment of C- versus N-alkylated amino acids using fast atom bombardment/tandem mass spectrometry

Some of the amino acid chemistry going on in the Laboratory of Amino Acids, Peptides and Proteins

Some of the chemistry of amino acids going on in our laboratory (Laboratoire des Amino acides Peptides et Protéines) is described as well as some mass spectrometry methodology for their characterization particularly on solid supports. Several aspects are presented including: (i) the stereoselective synthesis of natural and unnatural amino acids using 2-hydroxypinan-3-one as chiral auxiliary; (ii) the stereoselective synthesis of natural and unnatural amino acids by deracemization of alpha-amino acids via their ketene derivatives; (iii) the synthesis of alpha-aryl-alpha-amino acids via reaction of organometallics with a glycine cation; (iv) the diastereoselective synthesis of glycosyl-alpha-amino acids; (v) the synthesis of beta-amino acids using alpha-aminopyrrolidinopiperazinediones as chiral templates; (vi) the reactivity of urethane-N-protected N-carboxyanhydrides. To characterize natural and non natural amino acids through their immonium ions by mass spectrometry, some methodology is also described.

Identification of amino acids in the fast atom bombardment mass spectra of peptides

The low-mass region (less than m/z 200) in the positive ion fast atom bombardment mass spectra of peptides generally contains sufficient information for amino acid identification.

A study of the positive and negative ion fast atom bombardment mass spectra of alpha-amino acids

The fast atom bombardment mass spectra of 24 alpha-amino acids have been studied. These include the mass spectra as well as the metastable ion MI and collisional activation CA spectra of [M + H]+ and [M - H]- ions. The extent of the common neutral losses as NH3, H2O and CO2H2 in the positive ion spectra is governed by the nature of the side chain. The relationship between the fragmentation behaviour of the negative ions and the presence of particular functional groups is less obvious. Mixtures of amino acids in glycerol show pronounced surface effects.