[urtula]

I saw this picture on a website somewhere, there was nothing really explained.
The only thing that was said was "look at step 3, thats spectacular".
I just wonder: whats to special about step 3, it seems H2O is being removed? I do not get it?
Is it some sort of special reaction? I have no clue btw what kind of substances these are of what they mean.

[pgk]

This is the biosynthesis of noradrenaline (norepinephrine) and adrenaline (epinephrine) from the amine acid “phenylalanine”.
In step 3, decarboxylation occurs and not dehydration.
Please, take a look to a biochemistry or a general pharmacology textbook (or website), in order to see the corresponding enzymes pathway.

[urtula]

This is the biosynthesis of noradrenaline (norepinephrine) and adrenaline (epinephrine) from the amine acid “phenylalanine”.
In step 3, decarboxylation occurs and not dehydration.
Please, take a look to a biochemistry or a general pharmacology textbook (or website), in order to see the corresponding enzymes pathway.

Ah yes, I see, I forgot the Carbon that was also removed.


So if I understand it correctly there is nothing really "special" about this?
 

[pgk]

it is a normal biochemical pathway that permanently occurs in mammals and not a lab preparative synthetic route.