Product Name: Folic acid
Synonyms: N-[4-[[(2-AMINO-4-HYDROXY-6-PTERIDYL)METHYL]AMINO]BENZOYL]GLUTAMIC ACID;n-4-[(2-amido-4-oxo-1,4-dihydro-6-terene)methylamino]benzoyl-l-glutamic acid;VITIMIN M;VITAMIN BC;Vitamin B11;VITAMIN M;ACIDUM FOLICUM;INCAFOLIC
CAS: 59-30-3
MF: C19H19N7O6
MW: 441.4
EINECS: 200-419-0
Product Categories: Intermediates & Fine Chemicals;Pharmaceuticals;chemical reagent;pharmaceutical intermediate;phytochemical;reference standards from Chinese medicinal herbs (TCM).;standardized herbal extract;FOLICET;vitamin;Food and Feed Additive;Biochemistry;Vitamins;Nutritional Supplements;Vitamin Ingredients;raw material-;-;food or feed additives;Inhibitors
Mol File: 59-30-3.mol
Folic acid Structure
Folic acid Chemical Properties
Melting point 250 °C
alpha 20 º (c=1, 0.1N NaOH)
Boiling point 552.35°C (rough estimate)
density 1.4704 (rough estimate)
refractive index 1.6800 (estimate)
storage temp. 2-8°C
solubility boiling water: soluble1%
form Crystalline Powder
pka pKa 2.5 (Uncertain)
color Yellow to orange
Water Solubility 1.6 mg/L (25 ºC)
Merck 14,4221
BRN 100781
Stability: Stable. Incompatible with heavy metal ions, strong oxidizing agents, strong reducing agents. Solutions may be light and heat sensitive.
InChIKey OVBPIULPVIDEAO-LBPRGKRZSA-N
CAS DataBase Reference 59-30-3(CAS DataBase Reference)
NIST Chemistry Reference Folic acid(59-30-3)
EPA Substance Registry System L-Glutamic acid, N-[4-[[(2-amino-1,4-dihydro- 4-oxo-6-pteridinyl)methyl] amino]benzoyl]-(59-30-3)
Safety Information
Risk Statements 33-62-68
Safety Statements 24/25
WGK Germany 1
RTECS LP5425000
F 8
TSCA Yes
HS Code 29362900
Hazardous Substances Data 59-30-3(Hazardous Substances Data)
MSDS Information
Provider Language
N-4-[(2-Amido-4-oxo-1,4-dihydro-6-terene)methylamino]benzoyl-L-glutamic acid English
SigmaAldrich English
ACROS English
ALFA English
Folic acid Usage And Synthesis
Description Folic acid (folate) is a kind of B-vitamin which is mainly present in the liver and kidney. It has various kinds of pharmacological and physiological effects. It is involved in amino acid metabolism, purine and pyrimidine synthesis, and is also essential for hematopoiesis and red blood cell generation. In women pregnancy, folate can effectively prevent neural tube defects in the baby. It plays important role in fertility through contributing to spermatogenesis. It can also reduce the incidence of heart disease, stroke and cancer.
Folate deficiency may lead to various kinds of diseases including glossitis, diarrhea, depression, confusion, anemia, and fetal neural tube defectsand brain defects (during pregnancy). Other symptoms may include fatigue, gray hair, mouth sores, poor growth, and swollen tongue.
Chemical Properties orange to yellow crystalline powder
Uses A vitamin needed to synthesize DNA, conduct DNA repair and methylate DNA, it also acts as a cofactor in biological reactions involving folate.
Uses hematopoietic vitamin
Uses folic acid is generally used as an emollient. In vitro and in vivo skin studies now indicate its capacity to aid in DnA synthesis and repair, promote cellular turnover, reduce wrinkles, and promote skin firmness. There is some indication that folic acid may also protect DnA from uV-induced damage. Folic acid is a member of the vitamin B complex and is naturally occurring in leafy greens.
Uses Literature tends to indicate that B vitamins cannot pass through the layers of the skin and, therefore, are of no value in the skin surface. Current experiments demonstrate, however, that vitamin B2 acts as a chemical reaction accelerator, enhancing the performance of tyrosine derivatives in suntan-accelerating preparations.
Uses Folic Acid is a water-soluble b-complex vitamin that aids in the for- mation of red blood cells, prevents certain anemias, and is essential in normal metabolism. high-temperature processing affects its sta- bility. it is best stored at lower than room temperatures. it is also termed folacin. it is found in liver, nuts, and green vegetables.
Definition ChEBI: An N-acyl-amino acid that is a form of the water-soluble vitamin B9. Its biologically active forms (tetrahydrofolate and others) are essential for nucleotide biosynthesis and homocysteine remethylation.
General Description Odorless orange-yellow needles or platelets. Darkens and chars from approximately 482°F.
Air & Water Reactions Insoluble in water. Aqueous solutions have pHs of 4.0-4.8.
Reactivity Profile Acid solutions of Folic acid are sensitive to heat, but towards neutrality, stability progressively increases. Solutions are inactivated by ultraviolet light and alkaline solutions are sensitive to oxidation. Folic acid is also inactivated by light. Folic acid is incompatible with oxidizing agents, reducing agents and heavy metal ions.
Fire Hazard Flash point data for Folic acid are not available; however, Folic acid is probably combustible.
Safety Profile Poison by intraperitoneal and intravenous routes. Experimental teratogenic effects. Mutation data reported. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of NOx.
Veterinary Drugs and Treatments Folic acid is used to treat folic acid deficiency in dogs, cats, and horses (theoretically in other animal species as well) often due to small intestinal disease. Cats with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency appear to be most at risk for folate and cobalamin deficiencies secondary to malabsorption of folic acid in the diet. Dogs with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency often are noted to have increased folate levels secondary to overgrowths of folate-synthesizing bacteria in the proximal small intestine. Chronic administration of dihydrofolate reductase inhibiting drugs such as pyrimethamine, ormetoprim or trimethoprim can potentially lead to reduced activated folic acid (tetrahydrofolic acid); folic acid supplementation is sometimes prescribed in an attempt to alleviate this situation.
Purification Methods If paper chromatography indicates impurities, then recrystallise it from hot H2O or from dilute acid [Walker et al. J Am Chem Soc 70 19 1948]. Impurities may be removed by repeated extraction with n-BuOH of a neutral aqueous solution of folic acid (by suspending in H2O and adding N NaOH dropwise till the solid dissolves, then adjusting the pH to ~7.0-7.5) followed by precipitation with acid, filtration, or better collected by centrifugation and recrystallised form hot H2O. [Blakley Biochem J 65 331 1975, Kalifa et al. Helv Chim Acta 6 1 2739 1978.] Chromatography on cellulose followed by filtration through charcoal has also been used to obtain pure acid. [Sakami & Knowles Science 129 274 1959.] UV: max 247 and 296nm ( 12,800 and 18,700) in H2O pH 1.0; 282 and 346nm ( 27.600 and 7,200) in H2O pH 7.0; 256, 284 and 366nm ( 24600, 24,500 and 86,00) in H2O pH 13 [Rabinowitz in The Enzymes (Boyer et al. Eds), 2 185 1960]. [Beilstein 26 III/IV 3944.]