AMMONIA FROM IRON(II) REDUCTION OF NITRITE AND THE STRECKER SYNTHESIS- DO IRON(II) AND CYANIDE INTERFERE WITH EACH OTHER

The question of whether the production of ammonia, from the reduction of nitrite by iron(II), is compatible with its use in the Strecker syn thesis of amino acids, or whether the iron and the cyanide needed for the Strecker synthesis interfere with each other, is addressed. Result s show that the presence of iron(II) appears to have little, or no, ef fect on the Strecker synthesis. The presence of cyanide does interfere with reduction of nitrite, but the reduction proceeds at cyanide/iron ratios of less than 4:1. At ratios of about 2:1 and less there is onl y a small effect. The reduction of nitrite and the Strecker can be com bined to proceed in each other's presence, to yield glycine from a mix ture of nitrite, Fe+2, formaldehyde, and cyanide.