Cinnamic acid

Characteristics:

Cinnamic acid is an organic compound with the formula C6H5CH=CHCOOH. It is a white crystalline compound that is slightly soluble in water, and freely soluble in many organic solvents. Classified as an unsaturated carboxylic acid, it occurs naturally in a number of plants. It exists as both a cis and a trans isomer, although the latter is more common.

Cinnamic acid is a central intermediate in the biosynthesis of myriad natural products include lignolsto lignin and ignocellulose, flavonoids, isoflavonoids, coumarins, aurones, stilbenes, catechin, and phenylpropanoids. Its biosynthesis is performed by action of the enzyme phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) on phenylalanine.

Cinnamic acid is a precursor for the synthesis of a huge number of plant substances, including lignin, tannins, flavonoids, pigments, many of the flavor components of spices, and various alkaloids, such as morphine and colchicine.

Applciation:

Used in the synthesis of methyl cinnamate, ethyl cinnamate, benzyl cinnamate, widely used in spice industry and medicine industry.

Used as a spice to prepare cherry, apricot, honey and cinnamon flavor; It can also be used as the raw material of cinnamate ester, the raw material of photosensitive resin polycinnamic acid ethylene series; Raw materials for the synthesis of methyl ester, ethyl ester and benzyl ester, which can be used as a spice for cosmetics, soaps, local anesthetics, hemostatic agents and medicine (lactate cardiodine and chlorphenaminobutyrate, etc.);

Used as plant growth regulators and fungicides and other pesticide raw materials;

Preservatives for fruits and vegetables;

Used as raw material of ultraviolet agent and photosensitive resin, used as sunscreen for cosmetics.