4-Hydroxymandelic acid explained

4-Hydroxymandelic acid is a chemical compound used to synthesize atenolol.^[1] The compound typically occurs as a monohydrate.

Synthesis and occurrence

It is produced from 4-hydroxypyruvic acid by the action of the enzyme (S)-p-hydroxymandelate synthase:

HOC₆H₄CH₂C(O)CO₂H + O₂ → HOC₆H₄CH(OH)CO₂H + CO2

4-Hydroxymandelic acid can be synthesized by the condensation reaction of phenol and glyoxylic acid:

HOC₆H₅ + CHOCO₂H → HOC₆H₄CH(OH)CO₂H

See also

• Vanillyl mandelic acid
• 4-Hydroxyphenylacetic acid

Notes and References

1. Book: Mattioda, Georges. Christidis, Yani. amp. Glyoxylic Acid. Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. 2000. 2. 10.1002/14356007.a12_495. 978-3527306732.