AN OPERATIONAL APPROACH TO N-CL-ALPHA-AMINO-ACIDS DECOMPOSITION

It has been usually thought that the rate of N-Cl-alpha-amino acids de composition changes and that their coefficient of molar absorptivity f alls when pH < 5, which has been explained on the basis of a hypotheti cal process of protonation at the N-Cl-amino group. We have proved: (i ) the absence of protonation at the N-Cl-amino group, at least when pH > 2-; (ii) the effect of the method of mixing on the reaction rate; ( iii) the absolute necessity of a very careful choice of buffers and so lvents; and (iv) the need to check the accuracy of the mathematical mo del to describe the chemical processes.