N-Phenylglycine

N-Phenylglycine is an organic compound with the formula C₆H₅NHCH₂CO₂H. This white solid achieved fame as the industrial precursor to indigo dye. It is a non-proteinogenic alpha amino acid related to sarcosine, but with an N-phenyl group in place of N-methyl.

Preparation

It is prepared by the Strecker reaction involving the reaction of formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide, and aniline. The resulting amino nitrile is hydrolyzed to give the carboxylic acid.