140-10-3

White to almost white crystalline powder

trans-Cinnamic acid is used in flavors, synthetic indigo and pharmaceuticals. It is involved in the production of methyl, ethyl and benzyl esters, which is used in the perfume industry. It serves as a precursor to the sweetener aspartame through enzyme-catalyzed amination to phenylalanine. It is a self-inhibitor produced by fungal spores to prevent germination. In addition, it is used to establish phenolic compounds by liquid chromatography, ultraviolet and mass spectrometry. It is utilized as a potential agent, thereby preventing lung tumor cells from metastasizing. Further, it induces intracellular release of calcium ions from the vacuole to the cytoplasm in order to trigger phytotoxicity in cucumber.

ChEBI: Cinnamic acid is a monocarboxylic acid that consists of acrylic acid bearing a phenyl substituent at the 3-position. It is found in Cinnamomum cassia. It has a role as a plant metabolite. It is a member of styrenes and a member of cinnamic acids. It is a conjugate acid of a cinnamate.

Notclassified

trans-cinnamic acid has inhibitory effect on phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate-induced invasion of human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. It is a potential agent which can prevent lung tumor cells from metastasizing. It induces intracellular release of Ca2+ from the vacuole to the cytoplasm which triggers phytotoxicity in cucumber.

Crystallise the acid from *benzene, CCl4, hot water, water/EtOH (3:1), or 20% aqueous EtOH. Dry it at 60o in vacuo. It is steam volatile. [Beilstein 9 IV 2002.]