5327. Kynurenic Acid

Nomenclature

CAS number: 492-27-3
4-Hydroxy-2-quinolinecarboxylic acid; 4-hydroxyquinaldic acid.
C10H7NO3; mol wt 189.17.
C 63.49%, H 3.73%, N 7.40%, O 25.37%.

Description and references

Found in the urine of some animals as a metabolic product of tryptophan; its excretion is stepped up in avitaminoses B1, B2 and B6. Isoln and syntheses: Spth, Monatsh. Chem. 42, 89 (1921); Besthorn, Ber. 54, 1330 (1921). Alternate syntheses: Benassi, Gazz. Chim. Ital. 91, 1097 (1961); Wald, Joullie, J. Org. Chem. 31, 3369 (1966); Jordanides, Ann. 729, 244 (1969).

Chemical structure

Properties

Yellow needles, mp 282-283°. Soly in water: about 0.9% at 100°. Sol in hot alc. Insol in ether.

Derivative

Methyl ester.
C11H9NO3; mol wt 203.19.
C 65.02%, H 4.46%, N 6.89%, O 23.62%.

Properties

Yellow crystals, mp 224°. Cf. xanthurenic acid.

Use

In nutrition studies, specifically in vitamin B deficiency diseases.