Identification of a new, naturally occurring, non proteic amino acid in xylem sap of Pisum sativum.

The xylem sap of nitrogen-fixing Pisum Sativum cv Homesteader has been examined by capillary gas chromatography and by gas chromatography mass spectrometry in both electron-impact and chemical ionization modes following the formation of N-heptafluorobutyryl isobutyl ester derivatives. One of the compounds thus detected had a mass of 389 and contained chlorine, one carboxylic acid group and a nitrogen atom. High-resolution mass spectrometry indicated that there were no other hetero atoms present in the molecule. The composition was determined to be C4H8NO2Cl. This composition can be explained only in terms of a chloroamino butyric acid.