When S-adenosylmethionine (Fig. 11.1), isolated from natural sources, is allowed to stand in aqueous solution for several weeks at room temperature, a stereoisomeric contaminant appears in solution that can be separated by ordinary methods. Suggest a structure for this contaminant and a reason that it forms.

Fig. 11.1

Transcribed Image Text:

R¹ •S+ H3C sulfur has the S configuration R² m ..S+ H₂C C CH₂ m I CH₂ НО" H -NH3 OH N NH₂