The Urech hydantoin synthesis is the
chemical reaction
A chemical reaction is a process that leads to the IUPAC nomenclature for organic transformations, chemical transformation of one set of chemical substances to another. Classically, chemical reactions encompass changes that only involve the pos ...
of
amino acid
Amino acids are organic compounds that contain both amino and carboxylic acid functional groups. Although hundreds of amino acids exist in nature, by far the most important are the alpha-amino acids, which comprise proteins. Only 22 alpha am ...
s with
potassium cyanate
Potassium cyanate is an inorganic compound with the formula KOCN (sometimes denoted KCNO). It is a colourless solid. It is used to prepare many other compounds including useful herbicide. Worldwide production of the potassium and sodium salts was ...
and
hydrochloric acid
Hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid, is an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride. It is a colorless solution with a distinctive pungent smell. It is classified as a strong acid
Acid strength is the tendency of an acid, symbol ...
to give
hydantoin
Hydantoin, or glycolylurea, is a heterocyclic organic compound with the formula CH2C(O)NHC(O)NH. It is a colorless solid that arises from the reaction of glycolic acid and urea. It is an oxidized derivative of imidazolidine. In a more general sen ...
s.
Reaction mechanism
See also
*
Bucherer–Bergs reaction
The Bucherer–Bergs reaction is the chemical reaction of carbonyl compounds (aldehydes or ketones) or cyanohydrins with ammonium carbonate and potassium cyanide to give hydantoins. The reaction is named after Hans Theodor Bucherer.
''Overall Reac ...
References
{{Reflist
External links
English translation of 1873 German article 'on lactyl amino acids and lactyl ureas' by
Friedrich Urech
Condensation reactions
Nitrogen heterocycle forming reactions
Heterocycle forming reactions
Hydantoins
Name reactions