Preferential formation of amino acid esters in aqueous alcohol solutions: solvolysis of 6,6′-bis(aminoacylamino)-2,2′-bipyridine by metal coordination

Abstract

Exclusive formation of amino acid esters took place at an appreciable rate in the Cu^II-catalysed solvolysis of 6,6′-(α-alanylamino or α-phenylalanylamino)-2,2′-bipyridine in alcohol–borate buffer (pH 7.2) solutions at 20 °C via formation of an amide-O-coordinated complex, even though appreciable amounts of water (0–40% v/v) were present in the solution.