Cinnamic acid, also known as cinnamic acid, benzylidene acetic acid and 3-phenyl-2-acrylic acid, is an unsaturated aromatic acid with a slight cinnamon smell. It exists in Impatiens, cinnamon oil and coca leaves in the form of free or ester.
White monoclinic prism. Slightly cinnamon aroma. Soluble in ethanol, methanol, petroleum ether, chloroform, easily soluble in benzene, ether, acetone, glacial acetic acid, carbon disulfide and oil, insoluble in water.
Cinnamic acid is an important raw material for organic synthesis. It is mainly used to synthesize methyl cinnamate, ethyl cinnamate and benzyl cinnamate. It is widely used in perfume industry and pharmaceutical industry. Used as an insect repellent in medicine. Cinnamic acid is used as perfume to make cherry, apricot, honey and cinnamon flavor. It can also be used as raw material of cinnamate. China's GB2760-1996 stipulates that cinnamic acid is allowed to be used as edible flavor; In addition, it can also be used as raw material for photosensitive resin polyvinyl cinnamate series; Raw materials for the synthesis of methyl ester, ethyl ester and benzyl ester. These esters can be used as spices for cosmetics, soap, local anesthetics, hemostatic agents and raw materials for medicine (cardiotropin lactate and chlorophenylaminobutyric acid, etc.); Cinnamic acid is also used as pesticide raw materials such as plant growth regulator and fungicide; Preservatives for fruits and vegetables; It is used as raw material of ultraviolet agent and photosensitive resin and sunscreen for cosmetics. Cinnamic acid can also be used as a standard for organic microanalysis, determination of double bonds, determination of uranium and vanadium, separation of thorium, etc.