Zur Biosynthese der Benzoesäuren in Gaultheria procumbens III

The cinnamic and benzoic acids present in Gaultheria procumbens could be separated by a combination of thin layer, paper, silicic acid, and gas chromatography. After administration of cinnamic-, o-coumaric-, and p-coumaric acid-[3-14C] to this plant, the amount of radioactivity in salicylic, p-hydroxybenzoic, gentisic, protocatechuic, and vanillic acid was quantitatively compared. Whereas all five of the latter acids were radioactive with cinnamic acid as the precursor, onky salicylic and gentisic acid contained radioactivity after administration of o-coumaric acid and only p-hydroxybenzoic, protocatechuic, and vanillic acid were radioactive with p-coumaric acid as the precursor. The results show that the hydroxylation pattern of the benzoic acids can be determined at the cinnamic acid stage.