Anthranilic acid is an aromatic acid with the formula C6H4(NH2)(CO2H) and has a sweetish taste.[ The Merck Index, 10th Ed. (1983), p.62., Rahway: Merck & Co.] The molecule consists of a benzene ring, ortho-substituted with a carboxylic acid and an amine. As a result of containing both acidic and basic , the compound is amphoteric. Anthranilic acid is a white solid when pure, although commercial samples may appear yellow. The anion C6H4(NH2)(CO2)−, obtained by the deprotonation of anthranilic acid, is called anthranilate. Anthranilic acid was once thought to be a vitamin and was referred to as vitamin L1 in that context, but it is now known to be non-essential in human nutrition.
Structure
Although not usually referred to as such, it is an
amino acid. Solid anthranilic acid typically consists of both the amino-carboxylic acid and the
ammonium carboxylate forms, and has a
monoclinic crystal structure with space group P2
1.
It is
triboluminescent.
Above , it converts to an
orthorhombic form with space group Pbca, which is not triboluminescent; a non-triboluminescent monoclinic phase with similar structure is also known.
History and etymology
In 1840-1841, Carl Julius Fritzsche was able to extract and crystallize two acids from the products of reaction of
indigo dye with
caustic potash, which he called chrysanilic and anthranilic acids after their colors before purification (golden yellow and black respectively) and the plant anil (
Indigofera suffruticosa).
The former was identified as ortho-carboxy anil of indoxyl-2-aldehyde only in 1910
while the latter was identified as salicylamide already in 1843 by Cahours.
Production
Many routes to anthranilic acid have been described. Industrially it is produced from phthalic anhydride, beginning with amination:
- C6H4(CO)2O + NH3 + NaOH → C6H4(C(O)NH2)CO2Na + H2O
The resulting sodium salt of phthalamic acid is decarbonylated via a Hofmann rearrangement of the amide group, induced by
hypochlorite:
[.]
- C6H4(C(O)NH2)CO2Na + HOCl → C6H4NH2CO2H + NaCl + CO2
A related method involves treating
phthalimide with sodium
hypobromite in aqueous sodium hydroxide, followed by neutralization.
[ Vogel's Textbook of Practical Organic Chemistry, 4th Ed., (B. S. Furniss et al., Eds.) (1978), p.666, London: Longman.] In the era when
indigo dye was obtained from plants, it was degraded to give anthranilic acid.
Anthranilic acid was first obtained by base-induced degradation of indigo.
Biosynthesis
Anthranilic acid is biosynthesized from
chorismic acid by the action of anthranilate synthase. In organisms capable of tryptophan synthesis, anthranilate is a precursor to the
amino acid tryptophan via the attachment of phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate to the
amine group. After then, cyclization occurs to produce
indole.
Uses
Industrially, anthranilic acid is an intermediate in the production of
and
saccharin. It and its
are used in preparing
to mimic
jasmine and orange, pharmaceuticals (
, such as
furosemide) and UV-absorber as well as corrosion inhibitors for metals and
in
soy sauce.
Anthranilate-based insect repellents have been proposed as replacements for DEET.
Fenamic acid is a derivative of anthranilic acid,[Sriram D, Yogeeswari P. Medicinal Chemistry, 2nd Edition. Pearson Education India, 2010. ] which in turn is a nitrogen isostere of salicylic acid, which is the active metabolite of aspirin.[ Several non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including mefenamic acid, tolfenamic acid, flufenamic acid, and meclofenamic acid are derived from fenamic acid or anthranilic acid and are called "anthranilic acid derivatives" or "fenamates".][Auburn University course material. Jack DeRuiter, Principles of Drug Action 2, Fall 2002 1: Non-Steroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS)]
Reactions
Anthranilic acid can be diazotized to give the diazonium salt C6H4(CO2H)(N2)+. This cation can be used to generate benzyne, dimerized to give diphenic acid, or undergo diazonium coupling reactions such as in the synthesis of methyl red.
It reacts with phosgene to give isatoic anhydride, a versatile reagent.
Chlorination of anthranilic acid gives the 2,4-dichloro derivative, which can undergo reductive coupling to form a biaryl compound.
Safety and regulation
It is also a DEA List I Chemical because of its use in making the now-widely outlawed euphoric sedative drug methaqualone (Quaalude, Mandrax).
See also
-
Kynureninase
-
3-Aminobenzoic acid
-
4-Aminobenzoic acid
-
Methyl anthranilate