描述
Protocatechualdehyde, also known as rancinamycin iv or 1,2-dihydroxy-4-formylbenzene, is a member of the class of compounds known as hydroxybenzaldehydes. Hydroxybenzaldehydes are organic aromatic compounds containing a benzene ring carrying an aldehyde group and a hydroxyl group. Protocatechualdehyde is soluble (in water) and a very weakly acidic compound (based on its pKa). Protocatechualdehyde is an almond, bitter, and dry tasting compound and can be found in a number of food items such as plains prickly pear, mugwort, silver linden, and cardamom, which makes protocatechualdehyde a potential biomarker for the consumption of these food products. Protocatechualdehyde can be found primarily in urine. This molecule can be used as a precursor in the vanillin synthesis by biotransformation by cell cultures of Capsicum frutescens, a type of Chili pepper. It is also found in the mushroom Phellinus linteus .