α-Phenycinnamic acid

Names
IUPAC name (2E)-2,3-Diphenylprop-2-enoic acid
Other names α-Phenylcinnamic acid, α-(Phenylmethylene)benzeneacetic acid, α-Phenyl-trans-cinnamic acid
Identifiers
CAS Number	91-48-5
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image Interactive image
ChemSpider	610577
ECHA InfoCard	100.001.882
InChI InChI=1S/C15H12O2/c16-15(17)14(13-9-5-2-6-10-13)11-12-7-3-1-4-8-12/h1-11H,(H,16,17)/b14-11+ Key: BIDDLDNGQCUOJQ-SDNWHVSQSA-N InChI=1/C15H12O2/c16-15(17)14(13-9-5-2-6-10-13)11-12-7-3-1-4-8-12/h1-11H,(H,16,17)/b14-11+ Key: BIDDLDNGQCUOJQ-SDNWHVSQBV
SMILES OC(=O)C(=C/C1=CC=CC=C1)/C2=CC=CC=C2 O=C(O)\C(=C\c1ccccc1)c2ccccc2
Properties
Chemical formula	C15H12O2
Molar mass	224.259 g·mol−1
Appearance	White to light yellow powder
Melting point	172-174 °C
Boiling point	224-225 °C
Solubility in water	Slightly soluble
Hazards
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards	Irritant[1]
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

α-Phenylcinnamic acid is a phenylpropanoid, or, more specifically, a derivative of cinnamic acid. It has the formula C₁₅H₁₂O₂ and appears as an off-white crystalline solid^[2].

Uses

α-Phenylcinnamic acid is frequently used as a compound synthesized in undergraduate laboratories to study the Perkin reaction, but is primarily seen as in intermediate or precursor to other, more useful phenylpropanoids.

Synthesis

There are many ways to synthesize α-phenylcinnamic acid. Some of the more popular methods of formation include the condensation of phenylacetyl chloride with benzaldehyde in the presence of triethylamine, the distillation of benzylmandelic acid, or by the reaction of sodium phenylacetate with benzaldehyde in acetic anhydride ^[3]. There are two isomers of this compound, differing in the geometry of the alkene. The E isomer, in which the two phenyl rings are cis to each other, is the major product formed by most synthetic routes. However, this compound can be converted using heat or ultraviolet light into a mixture containing nearly 50% of the Z isomer.^[4]

References