Posted by chemist on June 19, 2004, at 14:41:18
In reply to Re: diference between phenylaline and phenylethylamine » chemist, posted by Larry Hoover on June 19, 2004, at 7:43:49
> > > > Does anyone know the difference between the two ??
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Linkadge
> > >
> > > Yes.
> > >
> > > Oh, you want to know what the difference is, too?
> > >
> > > PEA is decarboxylated phenylalanine. The carboxyl group (COOH) is what confers the acid aspect of the latter being an amino acid. Enzymes called decarboxylases remove the carboxyl group.
> > >
> > > So, phenylalanine minus carboxyl is PEA.
> > >
> > > Lar
> > >
> > >
> > hello there, chemist here....actually, phenethylamine does not contain a carboxylate group: what you are looking at at is a phenyl group to which there is an ethyl linkage to a primary amine. phenylalanine, which is what i presume the poster was referring to, exists as the zwitterionic form and does include a carboxylate (in addition to a protonated amine). of course, if you do decarboxolate phenylalanine, you get phenethylamine, but as the salt at circuneutral pH. and you still carry a formal charge, so not the free base.
> > all the best, chemist
>
> Methinks you mighta misread what I said. Or did you just want to work the word zwitterionic into a sentence? ;-)
>
> I try to stay away from concepts like zwitterions 'cause I'm not sure they increase comprehension. Just a style thing.
>
> Lar
>
no, just wondering where that extra proton you need to saturate the alpha carbon would come from :)......all the best, chemist
poster:chemist
thread:353134
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040613/msgs/358128.html