Pyruvoylamino acid amides

C. Interconversion of a-Hydroxy- and a-Mercapto-a-amino Acids, Hydroxy- and Mercaptopiperazinediones, Pyruvoylamino Acid Amides and Dehydropeptides... 

The a,p-double bond in amino acid derivatives and peptides represents, in addition to the amino and carboxy groups, the introduction of a third highly reactive function into the molecule. It is therefore pertinent in a discussion of the a,P-dehydroamino acids to devote some attention to their primary addition products, such as derivatives of a-mercapto- and a-hydroxy-a-amino acids. Further topics relevant in this context are their relationship to P-hydroxy- and P-mercapto-a-amino acid derivatives (elimination-addition sequence), as well as syntheses and reactions of pyruvoylamino acids, which result from the hydrolysis of dehydropeptides and can possibly serve as precursors of the latter by condensation with amino acid amides. On the other hand, p,y- and y S-dehydroamino acids will be excluded from the scope of this discussion. The isolated double bonds of these compounds undergo the normal olefin reactions and display no unusual characteristics. 

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