koniferyylialkoholin

Koniferyylialkoholi, known in English as coniferyl alcohol, is a hydroxycinnamyl alcohol and one of the principal monolignols involved in the biosynthesis of lignin in vascular plants. It is a phenylpropanoid compound characterized by a guaiacyl-type aromatic ring bearing one methoxy group and one hydroxyl group, linked to a three-carbon side chain ending in a primary alcohol.

In structural terms, koniferyylialkoholin features a substituted benzene ring with a methoxy substituent and a hydroxy group, arranged so that the side chain attaches to the ring. The side chain is a three-carbon propenyl alcohol chain, forming the typical cinnamyl alcohol backbone found among lignin precursors.

Biosynthesis occurs via the plant phenylpropanoid pathway. Starting from phenylalanine, the pathway proceeds through enzymatic steps that introduce hydroxyl and methoxy groups, forming coniferaldehyde and ultimately reducing it to koniferyylialkoholin by cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase. This compound serves as a key precursor to guaiacyl units incorporated into lignin.

Role in lignification is central: koniferyylialkoholin units are radical-coupled, by peroxidases or laccases, into the growing lignin polymer. This process strengthens cell walls and is essential for plant structural integrity, water transport, and defense.

Occurrence and applications: koniferyylialkoholin is found in many plant species as part of the lignin biosynthetic repertoire. In research, it is used as a model substrate to study monolignol transport, oxidation, and polymerization processes. Chemical transformations of coniferyl alcohol are also explored in flavor and fragrance research and in studies of lignin-derived compounds. Safety follows standard laboratory precautions for organic chemicals; consult the material safety data sheet for specific handling guidance.