Hi,
I wonder if someone could help. Im currently an undergraduate student and my organic chemistry is not good and I would like some advice with a reaction mechanism.
I am trying to work out the reaction for the cyclisation of creatine to creatinine in acidic conditions. All I have been able to find online is the first image.
My apologies of there is nothing else too this and that is all there is too it.
I have been trying for a while to figure this out, one pathway I have attached below but I can see this is wrong but its the closest I can seem to figure out the would depend on the H+ ions in acidic solution.
I know i'm probably completely wrong and sorry if this is a stupid question.
I believe the first reaction probably is all there is as I cant seem to make sense of anything further, and my problem is I do seem to overthink things and over complicate matters.
But what I am struggling to understand is why the reaction occurs faster under acidic conditions if the free H+ in solution do not react, why does a decrease in pH make this reaction occur faster. Also under acidic conditions, would the oxygen on the carbonyl group not also react? why would the reaction stop there?
Any help/advice would be appreciated
Thank you