CAS: 51257-24-0

3-Acetoxy-4-nitrobenzoic acid is a surfactant that has been found to be effective in catalyzing the hydrolysis of nitrophenyl esters. 3-Acetoxy-4-nitrobenzoic acid has a variety of other uses, including its ability to form micelles with hydrophobic molecules and to solubilize primary amino acids. This compound is also used as an amphiphile in microemulsions, which are water droplets of oil surrounded by a layer of water stabilized by surfactants. One use for 3-acetoxy-4-nitrobenzoic acid is as a cationic surfactant that can be used for kinetic studies on micelles. The kinetic data for this compound has been shown to be unique, but the exact mechanism of action remains unclear.