What Is 4-Amino-4-phenylbutanoic Acid?

4-Amino-4-phenylbutanoic acid is a non-proteinogenic, γ-amino acid with the molecular formula C₁₀H₁₃NO₂ and a molecular weight of approximately 179.22 g/mol. It possesses both a primary amine group and a carboxylic acid group, separated by a four-carbon chain, with a phenyl ring attached at the carbon bearing the amino group (the γ-carbon).

Unlike the common α-amino acids found in proteins, this compound belongs to the γ-amino acid family, which has attracted significant interest in medicinal chemistry and chemical biology due to the conformational constraints and metabolic stability that γ-amino acid residues can impart to peptide-mimetic structures. The phenyl substituent further adds steric bulk and potential for aromatic interactions, making it a useful scaffold for drug discovery programs.

Handling, Storage, and Safety

Storage: 4-Amino-4-phenylbutanoic acid should be stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from incompatible materials such as strong oxidising agents and strong acids. The container should be kept tightly sealed. Refrigerated storage (2–8 °C) is generally recommended for long-term stability of amino acid reagents; consult the product-specific Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for confirmed conditions.

Handling: Standard laboratory precautions apply. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including nitrile gloves, safety goggles, and a lab coat. Avoid inhalation of dust. Work in a well-ventilated environment or under a fume hood when handling powders.

Disposal: Dispose of waste in accordance with local, regional, and national regulations. Do not pour down the drain without checking applicable guidelines.

Note: Always consult the current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for this product before use.

Solubility and Preparation of Solutions

As a zwitterionic γ-amino acid, 4-Amino-4-phenylbutanoic acid is expected to show limited solubility in pure organic solvents such as dichloromethane or diethyl ether, while being more soluble in polar protic solvents and aqueous media at appropriate pH values. It is generally soluble in water (particularly under acidic or basic conditions that protonate or deprotonate the molecule, respectively) and in polar aprotic solvents such as DMSO or DMF.

For preparation of stock solutions, dissolve the compound in DMSO or dilute aqueous acid/base as appropriate for your assay. Warm gently and sonicate if necessary to aid dissolution. Filter sterilise if the solution is intended for cell-based assays. Verify concentration by UV absorbance or gravimetric calculation.

Important: Specific solubility data for this lot should be confirmed against the product CoA. The figures above represent general expectations for this compound class.

Research Applications

4-Amino-4-phenylbutanoic acid serves several roles in chemical and biological research:

• Peptide and peptidomimetic synthesis: As a γ-amino acid building block, it can be incorporated into peptide chains to introduce conformational rigidity or probe structure–activity relationships (SAR) in bioactive peptides.
• Medicinal chemistry intermediates: The compound may be used as a precursor or intermediate in the synthesis of biologically active small molecules, including candidates targeting neurological or other disease pathways where γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) analogues are relevant.
• Chiral synthesis: The stereocentre at C-4 makes this compound valuable in asymmetric synthesis and as a chiral pool starting material.
• Academic research: Used in studies investigating γ-amino acid chemistry, foldamer design, and the development of novel synthetic methodologies.

Researchers are encouraged to review recent primary literature for emerging applications not covered here.

Purity, Specifications, and Quality Assurance

Aladdin Scientific supplies 4-Amino-4-phenylbutanoic acid (SKU A735354) with lot-specific purity and analytical data documented on the Certificate of Analysis (CoA). Typical analytical techniques used to characterise amino acid reagents of this type include:

• High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) for purity assessment
• ¹H and ¹³C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy for structural confirmation
• Mass Spectrometry (MS) for molecular weight verification
• Melting point determination

To obtain the CoA for your specific lot, visit the Aladdin Scientific website and search by SKU A735354, or contact our technical support team. Always use the lot-specific CoA to confirm purity and other critical parameters before use in sensitive assays.