Lesquerolic acid is a
hydroxycarboxylic acid Hydroxycarboxylic acids are carboxylic acids containing one or more hydroxy (Alcohol (chemistry), alcohol) functional groups. They are of particular interest because several are bioactive and some are useful precursors to polyesters.
The inventory ...
that occurs naturally in ''
Paysonia lasiocarpa
''Paysonia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae. They are generally referred to by the common name bladderpod or mustard. The genus is found in southern North America. Until 2002 it was considered to be part of the genus '' ...
'' and other ''
Paysonia'' and ''
Physaria
''Physaria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae. Many species are known generally as twinpods, bladderpods, or lesquerella. They are native to the Americas, with many species endemic to western North America. They are dense ...
'' species. This compound has the
''R'' configuration at the alcohol-bearing stereocenter, and it is of the
''Z'' configuration at the olefin. Lesquerolic acid is chemically similar to
ricinoleic acid
Ricinoleic acid, formally called 12-hydroxy-9-''cis''-octadecenoic acid is a fatty acid. It is an unsaturated omega-9 fatty acid and a hydroxy acid. It is a major component of the seed oil obtained from mature castor plant (''Ricinus communis' ...
, but with two additional carbons at the carboxyl end of the carbon chain.
Lesquerolic acid, with other hydroxy fatty acids, has important industrial uses, including making resins, waxes, nylons and plastics.
References
Fatty acids
Hydroxy acids
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