Chemical Properties
clear pale yellow to yellow liquid
Uses
2-Phenylpropionic acid is used in the preparation of ibuprofen derivatives for their anti-inflammatory activity. Also used in nucleation inhibitors in Dutch resolution of diastereomers.
Definition
ChEBI: A 2-arylpropionic acid carrying a phenyl group at position 2. It is a metabolite of alpha-methylstyrene (AMS), a volatile hydrocarbon.
Synthesis
2-Phenylpropionic acid is prepared:
1) from Benzyl cyanide by Metbylation with
Methyl iodide and Sodamide to produce alpha-Phenylpropionitrile, from which the
acid is produced by acid hydrolysis.
2) from Acetophenone cyanhydrin with Hydriodic
acid.
Purification Methods
Fractionally distil the acid, or recrystallise it from pet ether (b 40-60o) with strong cooling (see references below). [Beilstein 9 II 348.]
