4740. Homovanillic Acid

Nomenclature

CAS number: 306-08-1
4-Hydroxy-3-methoxybenzeneacetic acid; (4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)acetic acid; 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-α-toluic acid.
C9H10O4; mol wt 182.17.
C 59.34%, H 5.53%, O 35.13%.

Description and references

Metabolite found in human urine. Prepn: F. Tiemann, N. Nagai, Ber. 10, 201 (1877); F. Mauthner, Ann. 370, 368 (1909); H. E. Fisher, H. Hibbert, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 69, 1208 (1947). End product of dopamine, q.v.: K. Shaw et al., J. Biol. Chem. 226, 255 (1957); M. Goodall, H. Alton, Biochem. Pharmacol. 25, 2635 (1968).

Chemical structure

Properties

White crystals, mp 143°. Sol in water, benzene. Slightly sol in alcohol, ether. Insol in cyclohexane.