Studies of a Quinyl-p-coumarate in the Pineapple Plant (Ananas comosus var. cayenne)

Abstract

An ester is found in small concentrations in vegetative pineapple plants, with spectral characteristics in the ultraviolet of an ester of p-coumaric acid. p-Coumaric acid is obtained after hydrolysis, and the remaining aqueous hydrolysate indicates the presence of quinic acid lactone on chromatograms. On the basis of neutral equivalent determinations, boric acid conductivity and periodate oxidation experiments, and analyses following mild hydrolysis, the structure of the ester is suggested to be a quinyl-di-p-coumarate. It serves in the plant as a cofactor for pineapple indoleacetic acid oxidase.