Aconitic acid

*cis*-Aconitic acid (top) and *trans*-Aconitic acid (bottom)^[1]
Names
	IUPAC name Prop-1-ene-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid
	Other names Achilleic acid; Equisetic acid; Citridinic acid; Pyrocitric acid
Identifiers
CAS Number	499-12-7 ;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
ChemSpider	303;
ECHA InfoCard	100.007.162
MeSH	Aconitate
PubChem CID	309;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID9060102 ;
	InChI InChI=1/C6H6O6/c7-4(8)1-3(6(11)12)2-5(9)10/h1H,2H2,(H,7,8)(H,9,10)(H,11,12) Key: GTZCVFVGUGFEME-UHFFFAOYAL;
	SMILES O=C(O)CC(=CC(=O)O)C(=O)O;
Properties
Chemical formula	C6H6O6
Molar mass	174.108 g·mol−1
Appearance	Colorless crystals
Melting point	198-199 °C (decomp)
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). verify (what is ?) Infobox references

Aconitic acid is an organic acid. The two isomers are cis-aconitic acid and trans-aconitic acid. The conjugate base of cis-aconitic acid, cis-aconitate is an intermediate in the isomerization of citrate to isocitrate in the citric acid cycle. It is acted upon by the enzyme aconitase.

Aconitic acid can be synthesized by dehydration of citric acid using sulfuric acid:^[2]

(HO₂CCH₂)₂COH(CO₂H) → HO₂CCH=C(CO₂H)CH₂CO₂H + H₂O

It was first prepared by thermal dehydration.^[3]

References

^ cis-aconitate - Compound Summary, PubChem
^ William F. Bruce (1943). "Acontinic Acid". Organic Syntheses; Collected Volumes, vol. 2, p. 12.
^ B. Pawolleck,"Substitutionsproducte der Citronensäure und ein Versuch zur Synthese der letzteren" Justus Liebig's Annalen der Chemie 1875, volume 178, 150-170. doi:10.1002/jlac.18751780203