Abstract
Anodic oxidation of α-amino acids with and without a β-hydroxy group was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential electrolysis in aqueous carbonate buffer of pH 10. The first wave of the α-amino acids is developed at nearly the same potentials as those observed for the corresponding simple aliphatic amines, showing that a β-hydroxy group does not significantly decrease the first oxidation potential, in contrast to the case of β-alkanolamines. Decarboxylation accompanied by dealkylation is the main reaction process, and a small amount of C-C bond fission also occurs only in the case of the β-hydroxy amino acids.
