A new method for minimizing isotopic fractionation associated with derivatization of organic compounds

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K21888
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 17:Earth and planetary science and related fields
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Chikaraishi Yoshito 北海道大学, 低温科学研究所, 教授 (50455490)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-06-28 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 誘導体化 / 安定同位体比 / 同位体分別

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, I developed a new method for minimizing isotopic fractionation associated with derivatization (particularly for acylation) of organic compounds. During acylation of amino acids, there is a significantly-large fractionation in 13C/12C, which is caused by preferential reaction of 12C on the acetyl reagents to amino acids. However, the isotopic fractionation can be reduced when amino acids are acylated with a surfactant and be diluted when the acyl group on the amino acids are replaced with that on the solvent.

Free Research Field

有機地球化学，同位体生態学，同位体生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

カルボキシル基やヒドロキシル基等の極性官能基をもつ有機化合物に関して，安定同位体比の測定を行うためには，測定を行う前に，極性官能基を化学修飾し，対象の有機化合物の極性を低下させる必要がある。しかし，多くの化学修飾（誘導体化反応）には，安定同位体比の人為的改変のリスクがあり，これが，極性有機化合物の安定同位体比研究を妨げている主因であった。本研究により，この「誘導体化（化学修飾）に伴う同位体比の人為的改変」を克服する２つの新たな手法が開発されたことは，今後，これらの極性有機化合物の安定同位体比を用いた研究が，様々な分野の研究で実用化されていくことが期待される。