BINDING ABILITY OF ALPHA-KETOAMIDE UNIT IN AMINO-ACID DERIVATIVES

An X-ray study of pyruvyl-L-methionine has shown that in the alpha-ket oamide group, the CO-CO bond is in trans orientation. Potentiometric a nd spectroscopic (EPR, CD, UV-VIS) studies of this ligand with Cu2+ in dicated that alpha-ketoamides of amino acids are efficient chelating a gents for cupric ions able to involve their amide nitrogen in metal io n binding without the need for an anchoring site, e.g., in peptides. T he likely modification of pyruvic moiety in basic solution (hydration) may have a distinct effect on the binding ability of the title ligand s. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.