The Strecker degradation is a chemical reaction which converts an α-

amino acid Amino acids are organic compounds that contain both amino and carboxylic acid functional groups. Although over 500 amino acids exist in nature, by far the most important are the 22 α-amino acids incorporated into proteins. Only these 22 a ...

into an

aldehyde In organic chemistry, an aldehyde () (lat. ''al''cohol ''dehyd''rogenatum, dehydrogenated alcohol) is an organic compound containing a functional group with the structure . The functional group itself (without the "R" side chain) can be referred ...

containing the

side chain In organic chemistry and biochemistry, a side chain is a substituent, chemical group that is attached to a core part of the molecule called the "main chain" or backbone chain, backbone. The side chain is a hydrocarbon branching element of a mo ...

, by way of an

imine In organic chemistry, an imine ( or ) is a functional group or organic compound containing a carbon–nitrogen double bond (). The nitrogen atom can be attached to a hydrogen or an organic group (R). The carbon atom has two additional single bon ...

intermediate. It is named after

Adolph Strecker Adolph Strecker (21 October 1822 – 7 November 1871) was a German chemist who is known primarily for his work with amino acids. Life and work Strecker was born in Darmstadt, the son of Friedrich Ludwig Strecker, an archivist working for the h ...

, a German chemist. The original observation by Strecker involved the use of

alloxan Alloxan, sometimes referred to as alloxan monohydrate, is an organic compound with the formula . It is classified as a derivative of pyrimidine. The anhydrous derivative is also known, as well as a dimeric derivative. These are some of the earlie ...

as the oxidant in the first step, followed by

hydrolysis Hydrolysis (; ) is any chemical reaction in which a molecule of water breaks one or more chemical bonds. The term is used broadly for substitution reaction, substitution, elimination reaction, elimination, and solvation reactions in which water ...

: :

The reaction can take place using a variety of organic and inorganic reagents.

References

{{Organic reactions Degradation reactions Food chemistry Name reactions