Infrared spectra of N-acetyl-L-α-amino-acid N'-methylamides with aliphatic side chains in non-polar solvents

Abstract

Infrared spectra of the L-alanine (I), L-leucine (II), L-valine (III) and L-tert-leucine (IV) N-acetyl N'-methylamides were measured. Amides I-IV are not self associated in tetrachlormethane in the concentration 2 . 10-5 mol l-1 at room temperature and in tetrachloroethylene in the concentration 1.5 . 10-4 mol l-1 at temperatures above 65° C. True conformational changes are observable only with the least flexible amide IV which exists at room temperature in a C5 conformation. This conformational type is also highly populated in the valine derivative III, but is less important in the alanine and leucine derivatives I and II in which the intramolecularly bonded C7 and the distorted hydrogen-nonbonded conformations contribute seriously.