Posted by chemist on June 19, 2004, at 3:19:59
In reply to Re: diference between phenylaline and phenylethylamine » linkadge, posted by Larry Hoover on June 12, 2004, at 11:45:51
> > Does anyone know the difference between the two ??
> >
> >
> > Linkadge
>
> Yes.
>
> Oh, you want to know what the difference is, too?
>
> PEA is decarboxylated phenylalanine. The carboxyl group (COOH) is what confers the acid aspect of the latter being an amino acid. Enzymes called decarboxylases remove the carboxyl group.
>
> So, phenylalanine minus carboxyl is PEA.
>
> Lar
>
>
hello there, chemist here....actually, phenethylamine does not contain a carboxylate group: what you are looking at at is a phenyl group to which there is an ethyl linkage to a primary amine. phenylalanine, which is what i presume the poster was referring to, exists as the zwitterionic form and does include a carboxylate (in addition to a protonated amine). of course, if you do decarboxolate phenylalanine, you get phenethylamine, but as the salt at circuneutral pH. and you still carry a formal charge, so not the free base.
all the best, chemist
poster:chemist
thread:353134
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040613/msgs/358027.html