Under-flame Reaction of Sulfur-containing Amino Acids by a Hydrogen-Oxygen Flame

Methionine was subjected to a flame-induced reaction in water or in an aqueous formic acid solution by using a hydrogen (50%)-oxygen (50%), hydrogen (87%)-oxygen (13%) and hydrogen diffusion flame. Besides the already-known stepwise oxidation by a hydroxyl radical, the contribution of a hydrogen atom from the flame to the reaction was recognized when the hydrogen-rich mixtures were employed. Homoserine was obtained under all the reaction conditions employed here, and glutamic acid when employing aqueous formic acid as a solvent. A common intermediate, the 3-carboxy-3-aminopropyl radical, appeared to exist in the reaction pathway. A coupling reaction of this radical with a hydrogen atom, hydroxyl radical and hydroxycarbonyl radical afforded 2-aminobutyric acid, homoserine and glutamic acid, respectively. Lanthionine and S-methylcysteine underwent the same reactions. Increasing the hydrogen content of the fuel and adding formic acid to the solvent resulted in retarding the reaction rate. The latter modification of the reaction system also brought about greater stability of the reaction products.