Cinnamic Acid Properties

Description

Cinnamic acid is obtained from oil of cinnamon, or from balsams. It is also found in shea butter and is the best indication of its environmental history and post-extraction conditions. It can also be made synthetically. It is used in flavors, synthetic indigo, and certain pharmaceuticals, though its primary use is in the manufacturing of the methyl, ethyl, and benzyl esters for the perfume industry. It has a honey-like odor; it and its more volatile ethyl ester (ethyl cinnamate) are flavor components in the essential oil of cinnamon, in which related cinnamaldehyde is the major constituent. Cinnamic acid is also part of the biosynthetic shikimate and phenylpropanoid pathways.