It is obtained by mild oxidation of 4-amino phenylacetic acid using potassium peroxymonosulfate as oxidizing agent in acetone.It is used to study photodecarboxylation of nitrophenylacetate ions in aqueous solution1. 3-Nitrophenylacetic acid was used in study to synthesize an azobenzene amino acid, having potent use as photo-inducible conformational switch in polypeptides. It is obtained by mild oxidation of 4-amino phenylacetic acid using potassium peroxymonosulfate as oxidizing agent in acetone. It is used to study photodecarboxylation of nitrophenylacetate ions in aqueous solution1. 3-Nitrophenylacetic acid was used in study to synthesize an azobenzene amino acid, having potent use as photo-inducible conformational switch in polypeptides.