Peptide hydrolysis
Peptide bonds are hydrolysed by prolonged heating with aqueous hydrochloric acid, followed by work-up when free amino acids are required.
- Reagents
- 6 mol dm-3 HCl(aq)
- Conditions
- heat at about 110 C for 24 h; then neutralise if free amino acids are required
- Reaction class
- hydrolysis
- Equation
- peptide + H2O -> amino acids
Overview
Peptide bonds are hydrolysed by prolonged heating with aqueous hydrochloric acid, followed by work-up when free amino acids are required.
Transformation
Peptides and proteins → Amino acids
- Equation
- peptide + H2O -> amino acids
- Reagents
- 6 mol dm-3 HCl(aq)
- Environment
- heat at about 110 C for 24 h; then neutralise if free amino acids are required
- Reaction class
- hydrolysis
- Mechanism
- amide hydrolysis
- Evidence level
- reviewed chemistry
Scope and limitations
- Scope
- Prolonged heating with concentrated aqueous hydrochloric acid hydrolyses peptide bonds to give amino-acid hydrochloride salts before neutralisation.
- Limitations
- The displayed product equation is a net relationship. Under the stated acidic conditions the immediate products contain protonated amino groups; alkaline hydrolysis is a distinct procedure and gives carboxylate salts until acid work-up.
Related reactions
- Peptide formation: Amino acids → Peptides and proteins
Controlled amino-acid coupling forms peptide bonds; the displayed equation is a net relationship rather than a complete experimental procedure.
References
- Organic Chemistry: Amino Acid Analysis of PeptidesJohn McMurry · OpenStax Organic Chemistry · 2023
Supports complete peptide-bond hydrolysis by heating with aqueous 6 M hydrochloric acid at about 110 degrees Celsius for 24 hours.