Sarcosine

Sarcosine, also known as N-methylglycine, or monomethylglycine, is a amino acid with the formula CH₃N(H)CH₂CO₂H. It exists at neutral pH as the zwitterion CH₃N⁺(H)₂CH₂CO₂⁻, which can be obtained as a white, water-soluble powder. Like some amino acids, sarcosine converts to a cation at low pH and an anion at high pH, with the respective formulas CH₃N⁺(H)₂CH₂CO₂H and CH₃N(H)CH₂CO₂⁻. Sarcosine is a close relative of glycine, with a secondary amine in place of the primary amine.

Sarcosine

Names
IUPAC name N-Methylglycine
Systematic IUPAC name (Methylamino)acetic acid
Identifiers
CAS Number	107-97-1 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
Beilstein Reference	1699442
ChEBI	CHEBI:15611 Y
ChEMBL	ChEMBL304383 Y
ChemSpider	1057 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.003.217
EC Number	203-538-6
Gmelin Reference	2018
KEGG	C00213 Y
MeSH	Sarcosine
PubChem CID	1088
UNII	Z711V88R5F Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID1047025
InChI InChI=1S/C3H7NO2/c1-4-2-3(5)6/h4H,2H2,1H3,(H,5,6) Y Key: FSYKKLYZXJSNPZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
SMILES CNCC(O)=O
Properties
Chemical formula	C3H7NO2
Molar mass	89.094 g·mol−1
Appearance	White solid
Odor	Odourless
Density	1.093 g/mL
Melting point	208 to 212 °C (406 to 414 °F; 481 to 485 K) experimental
Solubility in water	89.09 g L−1 (at 20 °C)
log P	0.599
Acidity (pKa)	2.36
Basicity (pKb)	11.64
UV-vis (λmax)	260 nm
Absorbance	0.05
Thermochemistry
Heat capacity (C)	128.9 J K−1 mol−1
Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298)	−513.50–−512.98 kJ mol−1
Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298)	−1667.84–−1667.54 kJ mol−1
Related compounds
Related alkanoic acids	Dimethylglycine Glycocyamine Creatine N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid beta-Methylamino-L-alanine Guanidinopropionic acid
Related compounds	Dimethylacetamide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). N verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

Sarcosine is ubiquitous in biological materials. It is used in manufacturing biodegradable surfactants and toothpastes as well as in other applications. It is also a reagent in organic synthesis.

Sarcosine is sweet to the taste.^{[citation needed]}