Biological Activity
N-Acetyl-D-penicillamine (NAP or NAPA), a thiol compound, is often used as a control molecule in studies involving nitric oxide donor molecules such as S-nitroso-N-acetyl-dl-penicillamine (SNAP) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). N-acetyl-D-penicillamine (NAPA) is also used as a heavy metal chelator.
Purification Methods
Both forms are recrystallised from hot H2O. A pure sample of the D-form is obtained after five recrystallisations. [Crooks in The Chemistry of Penicillin Clarke, Johnson and Robinson eds, Princeton University Press, 470 1949, Review: Chain et al. Antibiotics (Oxford University Press) 2 1949, Beilstein 4 III 1662.]
