Question

What kind of process is represented in the following equation?

(a) Hydrogenation

(b) Substitution

(c) Decomposition

(d) Addition and elimination

The question was asked in a national level competition.

I need to ask this question from Recent Advances topic in section Recent Advances in Enzyme Technology of Enzyme Technology

Answer 1

The correct option is (a) Hydrogenation

Easiest explanation: The process in the above reaction represents simple hydrogenation process to form aspartame. If BOC-L-aspartic acid and L-phenylalanine methyl ester are reacted in the presence of thermolysin, an equilibrium reaction mixture is achieved producing relatively small yields of BOC-aspartame. After this step, the BOC-aspartame is released from this adduct by simply altering the pH. The stereo-specificity of the thermolysin determines that only the L-isomer of phenylalanine methyl ester reacts but the addition product is formed equally well from both the D- and L-isomers.