Abstract: | Results of a study of the interaction of alkali metal salts on model aliphatic amides are reported. Lithium salts appear to interact more strongly with amides than those of other alkali metals. Spectroscopic investigations suggest that Li+ ion binds to the amide group at the carbonyl oxygen, causing a change in the spectroscopic properties and the geometry of the amide. Such binding of ions to amide groups may be of importance when one studies the spectral and conformational changes of polypeptides and proteins in high salt media. |