aconitate

Aconitate is the name given to the conjugate base(s) and salts of aconitic acid, a tricarboxylic acid with an unsaturated carbon backbone. In solution, aconitic acid can lose one or more protons to form mono- or di-anions, which are collectively referred to as aconitate. Common salts include sodium aconitate and potassium aconitate. The aconitate species carry multiple carboxylate groups and a conjugated carbon–carbon double bond, which influences their acidity, reactivity, and metal-binding properties.

In biochemistry, cis-aconitate is a central intermediate of the citric acid cycle. The enzyme aconitase catalyzes the reversible isomerization of citrate to cis-aconitate by dehydration, followed by hydration to form isocitrate. Cis-aconitate is typically transiently bound in the active site of aconitase during this conversion. This step helps rearrange the carbon skeleton before isocitrate proceeds to further oxidation in the cycle. The stability and behavior of aconitate and its esters or salts can affect pathway flux under certain physiological or pathological conditions.

Chemically, aconitate salts are often encountered in inorganic and organic synthesis as multi-dentate ligands due to their three carboxylate groups. Their acidity and charge make them relevant for coordination chemistry and as intermediates in various synthetic routes. While primarily discussed in the contexts of metabolism and coordination chemistry, aconitate compounds may also appear in studies of polycarboxylate chemistry and related buffering systems.