Chapter 5, Problem 29P

Some of the most important organic compounds in biochemistry are the $\text{α-amino}\text{acid}$ represented by the general formula shown.

Write structural formulas for the following α-amino acids.

Alanine (R = methyl)

Valine (R = isopropyl)

Leucine (R = isobutyl)

Isoleucine (R = sec-butyl)

Serine (R = ${\text{XCH}}_2$, where X is the functional group that characterizes alcohols)

Cysteine (R = ${\text{XCH}}_2$, where X is the functional group that characterizes thiols)

Aspartic acid (R = ${\text{XCH}}_2$, where X is the functional group that characterizes carboxylic acids)