Strecker degradation

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title: "Strecker degradation" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["degradation-reactions", "food-chemistry", "name-reactions"] description: "Chemical reaction" topic_path: "science/chemistry" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strecker_degradation" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Chemical reaction ::

The Strecker degradation is a chemical reaction which converts an α-amino acid into an aldehyde containing the side chain, by way of an imine intermediate. It is named after Adolph Strecker, a German chemist.

The original observation by Strecker involved the use of alloxan as the oxidant in the first step, followed by hydrolysis:

:[[File:Strecker Degradation.png|500px]]

The reaction can take place using a variety of organic and inorganic reagents.

References

References

1. Strecker, A. (1862). "Notiz über eine eigenthümliche Oxydation durch Alloxan". Annalen der Chemie und Pharmacie.
2. (1952). "The Strecker Degradation of α-Amino Acids". Chem. Rev..

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