Umbellic acid (2,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid) is a hydroxycinnamic acid. It is an isomer of caffeic acid.

Umbellic acid
Chemical structure of umbellic acid
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
(2E)-3-(2,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoic acid
Other names
2,4-Dihydroxycinnamic acid
(E)-2,4-Dihydroxycinnamic acid
(2E)-3-(2,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)acrylic acid
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.221.943 Edit this at Wikidata
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C9H8O4/c10-7-3-1-6(8(11)5-7)2-4-9(12)13/h1-5,10-11H,(H,12,13)/b4-2+
    Key: HGEFWFBFQKWVMY-DUXPYHPUSA-N
  • C1=CC(=C(C=C1O)O)C=CC(=O)O
Properties
C9H8O4
Molar mass 180.159 g·mol−1
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

It is a precursor in the umbelliferone biosynthesis pathway. Umbelliferone is a phenylpropanoid and as such is synthesized from L-phenylalanine, which in turn is produced via the shikimate pathway. Phenylalanine is lysated into cinnamic acid, followed by hydroxylation by cinnamate 4-hydroxylase to yield 4-coumaric acid. The 4-coumaric acid is again hydroxylated by cinnamate/coumarate 2-hydroxylase to yield 2,4-dihydroxy-cinnamic acid followed by a bond rotation of the unsaturated bond adjacent to the carboxylic acid group. Finally an intramolecular attack from the hydroxyl group of C2' to the carboxylic acid group closes the ring and forms the lactone umbelliferone.

L-phenylalanine   Cinnamic acid  para-Coumaric acid  2,4-Dihydroxycinnamic acid  Umbelliferone

The enzyme 4-hydroxycinnamate decarboxylase, induced in bacteria species such as Klebsiella oxytoca, works also with p-coumaric acid analogs such as E-2,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid.[1]

References

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  1. ^ Hashidoko, Y; Tanaka, T; Tahara, S (2001). "Induction of 4-hydroxycinnamate decarboxylase in Klebsiella oxytoca cells exposed to substrates and non-substrate 4-hydroxycinnamate analogs". Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry. 65 (12): 2604–12. doi:10.1271/bbb.65.2604. hdl:2115/15847. PMID 11826954.
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  The dictionary definition of umbellic acid at Wiktionary