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InventoryRef 4063002/03/2011

PHENYLACETIC ACID

Phenylacetic Acid

PHENYLACETIC ACID is listed in the EU CosIng inventory, but no direct annex records are linked on this page yet.

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Regulatory evidence by market

No rule for this ingredient has been imported for any of the 13 markets tracked here.

That describes this inventory, not the law. No imported rule is not evidence that an ingredient is permitted: a rule may exist under another name or identifier, or in a dataset not yet imported here.

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Chemical identity and properties

PubChem 2D chemical structure for CAS 103-82-2
CAS 103-82-2PubChem CID 999

Phenylacetic Acid

Phenylacetic acid is a monocarboxylic acid that is toluene in which one of the hydrogens of the methyl group has been replaced by a carboxy group. It has a role as an auxin, a toxin, a plant growth retardant, an allergen, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolite, a plant metabolite, an Aspergillus metabolite, an Escherichia coli metabolite, a human metabolite and an EC 6.4.1.1 (pyruvate carboxylase) inhibitor. It is a member of benzenes, a monocarboxylic acid and a member of phenylacetic acids. It is functionally related to an acetic acid. It is a conjugate acid of a phenylacetate. — ChEBI

IUPAC name
2-phenylacetic acid
Molecular formula
C8H8O2
Molecular weight
136.15 g/mol
Exact mass
136.052429494 Da
XLogP3
1.4
Topological polar surface area
37.3 Ų
Hydrogen-bond donors
1
Hydrogen-bond acceptors
2
Covalent units
1
Defined stereocentres
0

Also known as

Benzeneacetic acidPhenylethanoic acidalpha-Toluic acidAcetic acid, phenyl-Benzenacetic acidPhenyllacetic acidomega-Phenylacetic acidBenzylcarboxylic acid
16 more reported names
Benzylformic acidKyselina fenyloctovaFEMA No. 2878ER5I1W795ACHEBI:30745NSC-125718RefChem:6125ASTUGENAL COMPONENT PHENYLACETIC ACIDANTINEOPLASTON AS 2-1 COMPONENT PHENYLACETIC ACIDANTINEOPLASTON AS2-1 COMPONENT PHENYLACETIC ACID203-148-6PHENYL ACETIC ACIDPhenylacetic acid (natural)Kyselina fenyloctova [Czech]NSC 125718BRN 1099647
Open full PubChem recordPubChem annotations3D structure image
External database identifiers

Evidence from additional scientific databases

EMBL-EBI ChEBI
Exact identifier matchCHEBI:30745

phenylacetic acid

A monocarboxylic acid that is toluene in which one of the hydrogens of the methyl group has been replaced by a carboxy group.

Formula
C8H8O2
Average mass
136.150 g/mol
Monoisotopic mass
136.05243 Da
Formal charge
0
  • monocarboxylic acid — is a (CHEBI:25384)
  • phenylacetic acids — is a (CHEBI:25978)
  • benzenes — is a (CHEBI:22712)
  • auxin — has role (CHEBI:22676)
  • toxin — has role (CHEBI:27026)
  • human metabolite — has role (CHEBI:77746)
  • Aspergillus metabolite — has role (CHEBI:76956)
  • plant growth retardant — has role (CHEBI:35219)
  • Escherichia coli metabolite — has role (CHEBI:76971)
  • plant metabolite — has role (CHEBI:76924)
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolite — has role (CHEBI:75772)
  • EC 6.4.1.1 (pyruvate carboxylase) inhibitor — has role (CHEBI:90318)
  • allergen — has role (CHEBI:50904)
  • acetic acid — has functional parent (CHEBI:15366)
  • auxin — has role (CHEBI:22676)
  • toxin — has role (CHEBI:27026)
  • human metabolite — has role (CHEBI:77746)
  • Aspergillus metabolite — has role (CHEBI:76956)
  • plant growth retardant — has role (CHEBI:35219)
  • Escherichia coli metabolite — has role (CHEBI:76971)
  • plant metabolite — has role (CHEBI:76924)
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolite — has role (CHEBI:75772)
  • EC 6.4.1.1 (pyruvate carboxylase) inhibitor — has role (CHEBI:90318)
  • allergen — has role (CHEBI:50904)
  • monocarboxylic acid — is a (CHEBI:25384)
  • phenylacetic acids — is a (CHEBI:25978)
  • benzenes — is a (CHEBI:22712)
  • phenylacetate — is conjugate acid of (CHEBI:18401)
Additional curated names
phenylacetic acid2-PHENYLACETIC ACID2-Phenylethanoic acidbenzeneacetic acidBenzeneacetic acidBenzylformic acidFEMA NO. 2878NSC-125718Omega-Phenylacetic acidPAPhenylacetic acidalpha-toluic acidomega-phenylacetic acid
Cross-references from this source
  • CAS: 103-82-2 — NIST Chemistry WebBook
  • CAS: 103-82-2 — KEGG COMPOUND
  • CAS: 103-82-2 — ChemIDplus
  • REGISTRY_NUMBER: 1099647 — Reaxys
  • REGISTRY_NUMBER: 68976 — Gmelin
  • MANUAL_X_REF: 4624 — DrugCentral
  • MANUAL_X_REF: C00000750 — KNApSAcK
  • MANUAL_X_REF: C07086 — KEGG COMPOUND
  • MANUAL_X_REF: C07086 — KEGG COMPOUND
  • MANUAL_X_REF: ECMDB04128 — ECMDB
  • MANUAL_X_REF: HMDB0000209 — HMDB
  • MANUAL_X_REF: PAC — PDBeChem
  • MANUAL_X_REF: PHENYLACETATE — MetaCyc
  • MANUAL_X_REF: Phenylacetic_acid — Wikipedia
  • MANUAL_X_REF: YMDB00891 — YMDB

Mapped by: Exact CAS cross-reference in the ChEBI compound record. Source updated: 2026-05-19. Retrieved: 2026-08-31. Open source record

NIH PubChem PUG-View
Exact identifier match999

Attributed physical-property, hazard, environmental and use annotations.

  • Note: This chemical does not meet GHS hazard criteria for < 0.1% (1 of 1864) of reports. Source: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
  • Signal: Danger Source: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
  • GHS Hazard Statements: H318 (14.4%): Causes serious eye damage [Danger Serious eye damage/eye irritation]; H319 (85.5%): Causes serious eye irritation [Warning Serious eye damage/eye irritation] Source: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
  • Precautionary Statement Codes: P264+P265, P280, P305+P351+P338, P305+P354+P338, P317, and P337+P317 (click each P-code to see the statement) Source: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
  • ECHA C&L Notifications Summary: Aggregated GHS information provided per 1864 reports by companies from 16 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.; Reported as not meeting GHS hazard criteria per 1 of 1864 reports by companies.; There are 15 notifications provided by 1863 of 1864 reports by companies with hazard statement code(s).; Information may vary between notifications depending on impurities, additives, and other factors. The percentage value in parenthesis indicates the notified classification ratio from companies that provide hazard codes. Only hazard codes with percentage values above 10% are shown. For more detailed information, please visit ECHA C&L website. Source: European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
  • Signal: Warning Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
  • GHS Hazard Statements: H319: Causes serious eye irritation [Warning Serious eye damage/eye irritation] Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
  • Precautionary Statement Codes: P264+P265, P280, P305+P351+P338, and P337+P317 (click each P-code to see the statement) Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
  • Health Effects: Chronic exposure to uremic toxins can lead to a number of conditions including renal damage, chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. Source: Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)
  • NFPA Health Rating: 2 - Materials that, under emergency conditions, can cause temporary incapacitation or residual injury. Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
  • NFPA Fire Rating: 1 - Materials that must be preheated before ignition can occur. Materials require considerable preheating, under all ambient temperature conditions, before ignition and combustion can occur. Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
  • NFPA Instability Rating: 0 - Materials that in themselves are normally stable, even under fire conditions. Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
  • Toxicity Summary: IDENTIFICATION AND USE: Phenylacetic acid forms white to yellow crystals or flakes. It is used in perfume, as a precursor in manufacture of penicillin G, fungicide, flavoring, and laboratory reagent. It is also used in production of drugs of abuse. HUMAN STUDIES: Inhalation exposure leads to cough, sore throat. Skin exposure leads to redness. Eyes exposure leads to redness, pain. ANIMAL STUDIES: Acute oral toxicity in rats is low. In study of acute effects in mice, ip injection of 300 mg/kg was toxic. Phenylacetic acid did not promote tumor formation when given to rabbits iv and sc for 40 days. In vitro phenylacetic acid induced dose-related embryotoxicity above 0.3 mg/mL. In teratogenic study with rats, administration of 3.2 mg/kg phenylacetic acid on 12th day of embryogenesis affected body weight, retarded skeletal ossification, and caused embryos to be resorbed at twice rate of controls. Phenylacetic acid inhibits activity of coenzyme A. Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
  • Toxicity Summary: Uremic toxins such as phenylacetic acid are actively transported into the kidneys via organic ion transporters (especially OAT3). Increased levels of uremic toxins can stimulate the production of reactive oxygen species. This seems to be mediated by the direct binding or inhibition by uremic toxins of the enzyme NADPH oxidase (especially NOX4 which is abundant in the kidneys and heart) (A7868). Reactive oxygen species can induce several different DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) which are involved in the silencing of a protein known as KLOTHO. KLOTHO has been identified as having important roles in anti-aging, mineral metabolism, and vitamin D metabolism. A number of studies have indicated that KLOTHO mRNA and protein levels are reduced during acute or chronic kidney diseases in response to high local levels of reactive oxygen species (A7869) Source: Toxin and Toxin Target Database (T3DB)
  • Environmental Bioconcentration: An estimated BCF of 3 was calculated in fish for phenylacetic acid(SRC), using a log Kow of 1.41(1) and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this BCF suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC). Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
  • Environmental Fate: TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), Koc values of 31, 26, and 28 from Podzol soil, Alfisol soil, and lake sediment, respectively(2) indicate that phenylacetic acid is expected to have very high mobility in soil(SRC). The pKa of phenylacetic acid is 4.31(3), indicating that this compound will exist almost entirely in the anion form in the environment and anions generally do not adsorb more strongly to soils containing organic carbon and clay than their neutral counterparts(4). Volatilization from moist soil is not expected because the compound exists as an anion and anions do not volatilize. Phenylacetic acid is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon its vapor pressure of 0.0038 mm Hg at 25 °C(5). Utilizing an unadapted soil suspension, biodegradation of 90% in 3 days was reported(6), indicating that biodegradation may be an important environmental fate process in soil(SRC). Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
  • Environmental Fate: AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), Koc values of 31, 26 and 28, determined from Podzol soil, Alfisol soil, and lake sediment, respectively(2) indicate that phenylacetic acid is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC). A pKa of 4.31(3) indicates phenylacetic acid will exist almost entirely in the anion form at pH values of 5 to 9(4) and, therefore, volatilization from water surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process. According to a classification scheme(5), an estimated BCF of 3(SRC), from a log Kow of 1.41(6) and a regression-derived equation(7), suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC). Utilizing an unadapted soil suspension, biodegradation of 90% in 3 days was reported(8), suggesting that biodegradation may be an important environmental fate process in water(SRC). Under anaerobic conditions, phenylacetic acid biodegraded >90% in 60 days using municipal sewage waste water(9). Hydrolysis is not expected to be an important environmental fate process since this compound lacks functional groups that hydrolyze under environmental conditions(4). Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
  • Environmental Fate: ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), phenylacetic acid, which has a vapor pressure of 3.8X10-3 mm Hg at 25 °C(2), is expected to exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase phenylacetic acid is degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals(SRC); the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be 3.6 days(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 4.5X10-12 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) that was derived using a structure estimation method(3). Phenylacetic acid does not absorb at wavelengths >290 nm(4) and, therefore, is not expected to be susceptible to direct photolysis by sunlight(SRC). Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

Mapped by: Existing checksum-valid CAS to unique PubChem CID match. Retrieved: 2026-08-31. Open source record

Scientific classifications and hazard annotations provide context and do not replace the market-specific regulatory decision shown above.

Additional source coverage and match status
SourceResultChecked
EMBL-EBI ChEBIExact match2026-08-31
NIH PubChem PUG-ViewExact match2026-08-31

A recorded no-match is useful evidence that the source was checked; it is not a claim that the substance does not exist elsewhere.

Retrieved from NIH PubChem on 2026-08-31 by checksum-valid CAS matching. Chemical properties do not replace the regulatory decision on this page.

Inventory details for PHENYLACETIC ACID

INCI name

PHENYLACETIC ACID

Description

Phenylacetic Acid

Record provenance

Inventory reference
40630
Imported identity
PHENYLACETIC ACID
Source update
02/03/2011
European Commission CosIng source notes
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Key data

CAS
103-82-2
EC
203-148-6
Restriction
—
Function
PERFUMING
Used for perfume and aromatic raw materials.

Ingredients with overlapping formulation functions

PHENYLACETALDEHYDE GLYCERYL CYCLIC ACETALSPERFUMING
PHENYLACETALDEHYDE HEXYLENEGLYCOL CYCLIC ACETALPERFUMING
PHENYLACETALDEHYDE ISOHEXYLENEGLYCOL CYCLIC ACETALPERFUMING
PHENYLACETALDEHYDE OXIMEPERFUMING
PHENYLETHOXYACETALDEHYDEPERFUMING
PHENYLETHYLIDENE-BIS-INDOLEPERFUMING
PHENYLETHYLPYRIDINEPERFUMING
PHENYLMETHYLPENTANALFRAGRANCE, PERFUMING

Additional official and scientific sources

11 external databases to check this identity in

Each link searches that source for this identity. What each source is, and its legal weight

ECHA CHEM / Information on chemicalsPubChem PUG RESTEU Safety Gate cosmetic product alertsECHA CHEMUS EPA CompToxCosmetic Ingredient Review safety assessmentsFDA Global Substance Registration SystemILO/WHO International Chemical Safety CardsJapan NITE-CHRIPNIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical HazardsOECD eChemPortal

How PHENYLACETIC ACID appears in the CosIng inventory

The CosIng inventory lists PHENYLACETIC ACID as a cosmetic ingredient and this page links it to 0 annex records. The inventory entry captures names and identifiers, while the annex records show where the substance is prohibited, restricted or positively listed in EU cosmetics law.

PHENYLACETIC ACID is also tagged with 1 cosmetic function in the official data. Function labels describe intended use, but they do not replace regulatory review of linked annex records before formulation or labelling work.

Frequently asked questions

PHENYLACETIC ACID is listed in the EU CosIng ingredient inventory with no direct annex restriction records linked at this time. Absence of an annex link does not guarantee unrestricted use — always verify against the current official CosIng database before formulating.

According to the EU CosIng inventory, PHENYLACETIC ACID carries the following function designation(s):

CAS 103-82-2 may appear across multiple EU annex records. Viewing the CAS lookup page shows all Annex II–VI entries sharing this identifier, which is useful for identifying cross-annex regulatory status of the same chemical substance.
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Source note for PHENYLACETIC ACID

This page reproduces the CosIng inventory entry for PHENYLACETIC ACID from public European Commission cosmetic ingredient materials and shows linked identifiers even when no direct annex match is currently attached.

Use this inventory page to research PHENYLACETIC ACID and compare linked records, but verify restrictions and legal status against the current official source text and law before making regulatory decisions.

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