Quinic acid
Chemical compound
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Quinic acid is an organic compound with the formula (CHOH)3(CH2)2C(OH)CO2H. The compound is classified as a cyclitol, a cyclic polyol, and a cyclohexanecarboxylic acid. It is a colorless solid that can be extracted from plant sources. Quinic acid is implicated in the perceived acidity of coffee, where it occurs around 13% by weight.[3]
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| Names | |||
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| IUPAC name
1ʟ-1(OH),3,4/5-Tetrahydroxycyclohexanecarboxylic acid [1] | |||
| Preferred IUPAC name
(1S,3R,4S,5R)-1,3,4,5-Tetrahydroxycyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid | |||
| Identifiers | |||
3D model (JSmol) |
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| ChEBI | |||
| ChEMBL | |||
| ChemSpider | |||
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.000.976 | ||
PubChem CID |
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| UNII | |||
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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| Properties | |||
| C7H12O6 | |||
| Molar mass | 192.17 g/mol | ||
| Density | 1.35 g/cm3 | ||
| Melting point | 168 °C (334 °F; 441 K) | ||
| Hazards | |||
| GHS labelling: | |||
| Warning[2] | |||
| H319[2] | |||
| P264, P280, P305+P351+P338, P337+P313[2] | |||
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |||
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Occurrence and preparation
The compound is obtained from cinchona bark, coffee beans, and the bark of Eucalyptus globulus.[4] It is a constituent of the tara tannins.
Urtica dioica, the European stinging nettle, is another common source.[5]
It is made synthetically by hydrolysis of chlorogenic acid.
History and biosynthesis

This substance was isolated for the first time in 1790 by German pharmacist Friedrich Christian Hofmann in Leer from Cinchona.[6] Its transformation into hippuric acid by animal metabolism was studied by German chemist Eduard Lautemann in 1863.[7]
Its biosynthesis begins with the transformation of glucose into erythrose 4-phosphate. This four-carbon substrate is condensed with phosphoenol pyruvate to give the seven-carbon 3-deoxy-D-arabinoheptulosonate 7-phosphate (DAHP) by the action of a synthase. Two subsequent steps involving dehydroquinic acid synthase and a dehydrogenase afford the compound.[8]
Derived bicyclic lactones are called quinides. One example is 4-caffeoyl-1,5-quinide.
Dehydrogenation and oxidation of quinic acid affords gallic acid.[8]
Applications and medicinal activity
Quinic acid is used as an astringent.
This acid is a versatile chiral starting material for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals.[8] It is a building block in the synthesis of oseltamivir, which is used to treat influenza A and B.


