Chorismic acid. A branch point intermediate in aromatic biosynthesis

Abstract

The isolation and characterization of chorismic acid are described. The structure of the acid has been elucidated by spectroscopic methods and by chemical degradation as (IV). The relative and absolute stereochemistries have been established as identical with the corresponding centres in shikimic acid. Chorismic acid has been shown to differ from a compound for which Lingens and Lück have claimed the structure (IV).