Definition: What is Perkin Reaction?

The Perkin reaction, also known as Perkin condensation, is an organic reaction which is used for the synthesis of α,β-unsaturated aromatic acid by the condensation of an aromatic aldehyde and an acid anhydride, in the presence of an alkali salt of the acid acting as a weak base. Generally, such type of reaction is only applicable to aromatic aldehyde and useful for the preparation of substituted cinnamic acid. One notable application for the Perkin reaction is in the laboratory synthesis of the phytoestrogenic stilbene resveratrol