5506. Linolenic Acid
Nomenclature
CAS number: 463-40-1
(Z,Z,Z)-9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid; α-linolenic acid. C18H30O2; mol wt 278.43.
C 77.65%, H 10.86%, O 11.49%.
Description and references
An essential fatty acid. Occurs as the glyceride in most drying oils. Synthesis: Nigam, Weedon, J. Chem. Soc. 1956, 4049; Osbond, Wickens, Chem. Ind. (London) 1959, 1288. Biosynthetic studies: C. G. Kannangara et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 52, 648 (1973); B. S. Jacobson et al., ibid. 1190; C. J. Bedord et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 185, 15 (1978). Effects on lipid metabolism in rat tissue: M. L. Garg et al., Lipids 23, 847 (1988). Review of dietary linolenic acid in mammals: J. Tinoco et al., ibid. 14, 166-171 (1979); in man: N. Zllner, Prog. Lipid Res. 25, 177-180 (1986).
Properties
Colorless liquid. d418 0.914. bp1 230-232°. Insol in water. Sol in organic solvents.Therapeutic Category
Nutrient (essential fatty acid).