Facile isolation, from L. sativus seed, of the neurotoxin β-N-oxalyl-L-α,β-diaminopropionic acid as the copper complex and studies of the coordination chemistry of copper and zinc with the amino acid in aqueous solution

Abstract In the present paper we report studies of the precipitation of the copper complex of β-ODAP directly from seed extracts. We have also studied the aqueous chemistry of the amino acid with copper and with zinc (which also forms an insoluble complex with β-ODAP under certain conditions). This work further serves to define the conditions needed for the effective extraction of the amino acid from the seed, and may also be relevant to the mode of action of this neurotoxin. In addition the work reveals significant new features concerning the coordination chemistry of this amino acid.