| Melting Point | 98°C (per Sarchem's existing published data — unverified against Sigma, see note below) |
| Color | White-Yellow |
| Linear Formula | C16H32O5 |
| Formula Weight | 304.43 |
| Physical Form | Crystal-powder |
| Chemical Name or Material | Aleuritic Acid |
| Molecular Weight | 304.43 g/mol |
| CAS Number | 533-87-9 |
| MDL Number | MFCD00021797 (Sigma-Aldrich); MFCD22201548 (marketplace listing) |
| InChI | 1S/C16H32O5/c17-13-9-5-4-7-11-15(19)14(18)10-6-2-1-3-8-12-16(20)21/h14-15,17-19H,1-13H2,(H,20,21)/t14-,15+/m1/s1 |
| InChI Key | MEHUJCGAYMDLEL-CABCVRRESA-N |
| Repeat-Unit Structure | 95% |
| Applications | Natural-product chemistry reference standard (shellac-derived chiral building block) |
Aleuritic Acid is a long-chain fatty acid carrying three hydroxyl groups along its carbon backbone, most notably known as the major building block released when shellac — a natural resin secreted by the lac insect — is hydrolyzed. Its multiple hydroxyl and carboxylic acid functional groups make it a useful chiral starting material for constructing macrolactones and other complex natural-product targets.
Aleuritic acid’s primary research use is as a natural-product chemistry building block, particularly in the synthesis of macrolactones and other chiral targets that benefit from its pre-existing stereocenters and multiple functional handles. It’s also studied as a polymer-chemistry precursor for polyester and resin research, given its structural relationship to shellac.
