When the activity of the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase is reduced, the amino acidphenylalanine accumulates and gets converted into phenylpyruvic acid (phenylpyruvate), which leads to 'Phenylketonuria (PKU)' instead of 'tyrosine' which is the normal product of phenylalanine hydroxylase.
Preparation and reactions
It can be prepared by many methods. Classically it is produced from aminocinnamic acid derivatives.[1] It has been prepared by condensation of benzaldehyde and glycine derivatives to give phenylazlactone, which is then hydrolyzed with acid- or base-catalysis.[2] It can also be synthesized from benzyl chloride by double carbonylation.[3][4]
^Carpy, Alain J. M.; Haasbroek, Petrus P.; Oliver, Douglas W. "Phenylpyruvic acid derivatives as enzyme inhibitors: Therapeutic potential on macrophage migration inhibitory factor" Medicinal Chemistry Research 2004, volume 13, pp. 565-577.