N-Acetylglycine

Chemical properties

white to light yellow crystal powde

The Uses of N-Acetylglycine

N-Acetyl-glycine is a derivative of Glycine (G615990). It is an intermediate used to synthesize rac 3-O-Methyl DOPA (M303805) which is an impurity of Levodopa.

Definition

ChEBI: An N-acylglycine where the acyl group is specified as acetyl.

Description

N-acetylglycine is used is in biological research of peptidomimetics. It is used as the blocking agent of the N-terminus to prepare unnatural and unusual amino acids and amino acid analogs as well as to modify peptides. N-Substituted glycine analogs are widely used in peptidomimetics and drug research.

Preparation

Aceturic acid can be prepared by warming glycine either with a slight excess of acetic anhydride in benzene, or with an equal molar amount of acetic anhydride in glacial (concentrated) acetic acid.

Purification Methods

N-Acetylglycine is treated with acid-washed charcoal and recrystallised three times from water or EtOH/Et2O and is dried in vacuo over KOH [King & King J Am Chem Soc 78 1089 1956]. [Beilstein 4 IV 2399.]