Quinic acid

Quinic acid, C7H12O6 is a crystalline acid obtained from cinchona bark, coffee beans, and other plant products and made synthetically by hydrolysis of chlorogenic acid. Quinic acid is also implicated in the perceived acidity of coffee.

History
This substance was isolated for the first time in the 1800s by French pharmacist Nicolas Vauquelin and further reactions from this acid to synthetize other compounds were studied by German chemist E. Lautemann in 1863.

Industrial applications
Quinic acid is used as an astringent.

Pharmaceutical uses
This acid is a versatile chiral starting material for the synthesis of new pharmaceuticals. A new medicament for the treatment of influenza A and B strains called Tamiflu has been successfully developed and launched into the market recently.