Shikimic acid

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Shikimic acid is a widely used ingredient in cosmetics, personal care, and skincare formulations. Depending on its function, it may serve as a moisturizer, preservative, emulsifier, or active ingredient to enhance the overall effectiveness and performance of a product.

Shikimic acid (Wikipedia)

Shikimic acid, more commonly known as its anionic form shikimate, is a cyclohexene, a cyclitol and a cyclohexanecarboxylic acid. It is an important biochemical metabolite in plants and microorganisms. Its name comes from the Japanese flower shikimi (シキミ, the Japanese star anise, Illicium anisatum), from which it was first isolated in 1885 by Johan Fredrik Eykman. The elucidation of its structure was made nearly 50 years later.

Shikimic acid
Chemical structure of shikimic acid
Chemical structure of shikimic acid
3D model of shikimic acid
3D model of shikimic acid
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
(3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-Trihydroxycyclohex-1-ene-1-carboxylic acid
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.004.850 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 205-334-2
KEGG
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C7H10O5/c8-4-1-3(7(11)12)2-5(9)6(4)10/h1,4-6,8-10H,2H2,(H,11,12)/t4-,5-,6-/m1/s1 checkY
    Key: JXOHGGNKMLTUBP-HSUXUTPPSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/C7H10O5/c8-4-1-3(7(11)12)2-5(9)6(4)10/h1,4-6,8-10H,2H2,(H,11,12)/t4-,5-,6-/m1/s1/f/h11H
  • InChI=1/C7H10O5/c8-4-1-3(7(11)12)2-5(9)6(4)10/h1,4-6,8-10H,2H2,(H,11,12)/t4-,5-,6-/m1/s1
    Key: JXOHGGNKMLTUBP-HSUXUTPPBZ
  • C1[C@H]([C@@H]([C@@H](C=C1C(=O)O)O)O)O
Properties
C7H10O5
Molar mass 174.15 g/mol
Melting point 185 to 187 °C (365 to 369 °F; 458 to 460 K)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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