The molecule is a 2-oxo monocarboxylic acid that is 3-phenylpropanoic acid substituted by an oxo group at position 2. It is an intermediate metabolite in the phenylalanine pathway. It has a role as a fundamental metabolite, a chromogenic compound and an EC 6.4.1.1 (pyruvate carboxylase) inhibitor. It derives from a pyruvic acid. It is a conjugate acid of a keto-phenylpyruvate. It is a tautomer of an enol-phenylpyruvic acid.
2-oxo-3-phenylpropanoic acid