What is "aconitic acid"

n. (context organic chemistry English) An organic acid involved in the isomerisation of citrate to isocitrate in the citric acid cycle.

Aconitic acid is an organic acid. The two isomers are cis-aconitic acid and trans-aconitic acid. The conjugate base of cis-aconitic acid, cis-aconitate is an intermediate in the isomerization of citrate to isocitrate in the citric acid cycle. It is acted upon by the enzyme aconitase.

Aconitic acid can be synthesized by dehydration of citric acid using sulfuric acid:

(HOCCH)COH(COH) → HOCCH=C(COH)CHCOH + HO

It was first prepared by thermal dehydration.