2-Azaniumyl-4-(ethylcarbamoyl)butanoate: the zwitterionic form of the amino acid theanine

Abstract

In the title zwitterion, C7H14N2O3, the ethylamino and the 5-oxo groups are positionally disordered with occupancy ratios of 0.50:0.50 and 0.70:0.30, respectively. The terminal ethyl –CH3 group undergoes considerable thermal motion. In the crystal, molecules are linked via N—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming a two-dimensional arrangement propagating in the bc plane.