Process for the Obtention of Coumaric Acid from Coumarin: Analysis of the Reaction Conditions

Néstor N. López-Castillo, Alma D. Rojas-Rodríguez, Brenda M. Porta, M. Javier Cruz-Gómez

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Chemical Engineering Department of the Faculty of Chemistry, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) Coyoacan, D. F. México, México.

DOI: 10.4236/aces.2013.33025                

Abstract

Coumaric acid can be obtained from basic hydrolysis of coumarin, through a reaction process consisting on opening the lactone ring and cis-trans isomerization. Parameters such as reaction time, temperature, NaOH concentration, solvent and reaction atmosphere, have been thoroughly studied and analyzed, in order to determine the appropriate conditions for the maximum conversion efficiency of coumarin into coumaric acid. Experimental results show that the best conditions are a 1 hour reaction time, at 160℃, with a 20% sodium hydroxide aqueous solution, and in an inert reaction atmosphere.

Keywords

Coumarin; Coumaric Acid; Ester Hydrolysis

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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