Understanding the chemistry of the dipeptide sweetener aspartameThe artificial sweeteners...

Understanding the chemistry of the dipeptide sweetener aspartame

The artificial sweeteners Equal and NutraSweet contain aspartame, which has the structure:

What are the two amino acids that are components of aspartame? What kind of bond links these amino acids? What do you suppose might happen if a solution of aspartame was heated for several hours at a pH near neutrality? Suppose you wanted to make hot chocolate sweetened only with aspartame, and you stored it in a thermos for several hours before drinking it. What might it taste like?