Abstract
Amino acids were prepared by shaking an aqueous solution of ammonia and pyruvic acid or levulinic acid in the presence of Raney nickel at room temperature. The formation of amino acids is due to the action of hydrogen absorbed in Raney nickel. As the results, alanine and γ-aminovaleric acid were obtained respectirely.
One of the author's(10) has reported previously that ammonium formate is decomposed into hydrogen, ammonia and carbon dioxide, when heated in the presence of Raney nickel. Using this hydrogen, amino acids were prepared from keto acids. Namely, an aqueous solution containing ammonium salts of keto acid and formic acid was boiled in the presence of Raney nickel. Alanine was also obtained in this case.
