5-Ethyl L-glutamate

In the title compound, C₇H₁₃NO₄, there are two independent mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit. All bond lengths and angles in the mol­ecules are in normal ranges. The ψ¹ and ψ² torsion angles are 159.9 (4) and −23.4 (5)°, respectively, in the first molecule, and the ψ³ and ψ⁴ torsion angles 157.7 (4) and −26.7 (5)°, respectively, in the second. Each of the independent mol­ecules has a different comformation. The translationally and screw-related mol­ecules are connected by N—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming a two-dimensional network parallel to the ac plane.