The spontaneous formation of amides. The mechanism of lactam formation from 3-(2-aminophenyl)propionic acid

Abstract

The spontaneous formation of the lactam from the neighbouring amino and carboxy groups of 3-(2-aminophenyl)propionic acid involves general acid catalysed and spontaneous reactions of the neutral amino-acid. The conditions necessary, and the mechanisms involved, suggest that spontaneous amide formation could be biologically significant.