Question

What is the role of cyanoborohydride in the reductive amination process involving glucose and peptides?

a) It acts as a reducing agent.
b) It stabilizes the reaction mixture.
c) It enhances solubility.
d) It catalyzes the formation of dihydrous forms.

Answer 1

Cyanoborohydride acts as a reducing agent in the reductive amination process, facilitating the conversion of carbonyl groups in glucose to amino groups that can react with peptides.

Step-by-step explanation:

The role of cyanoborohydride in the reductive amination process involving glucose and peptides is that it acts as a reducing agent. Reductive amination is a chemical reaction that introduces an amine group into an organic compound by reacting an aldehyde or a ketone with an amine in the presence of a reducing agent.

Cyanoborohydride, such as sodium cyanoborohydride (NaBH3CN), is often used in this process because it can selectively reduce the intermediate imine or iminium cation to form a new carbon-nitrogen bond, resulting in the formation of an amine. The reductive power of cyanoborohydride is crucial for the completion of this reaction, enabling the conversion of carbonyl groups in sugars like glucose into amino groups.