Abstract
The title compound, C3H5NO3, is used as a model system for studies of radiation damage in more complex polypeptides. The crystal structure is only the third of an isolated N-formyl amino acid. Essentially planar molecules form hydrogen-bonded sheets with three types of intermolecular interactions, including a very rare >N—H⋯O hydrogen bond with the OH group of the carboxylic acid function as the acceptor.