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Beta hydroxycarboxylic acid

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Class of chemical compounds Not to be confused with butylated hydroxyanisole.
3-Hydroxypropionic acid, a simple beta hydroxy acid

A beta hydroxy carboxylic acid or β-hydroxy carboxylic acid (BHA) is a carboxylic acid containing a hydroxy functional group separated by two carbon atoms. They are related to alpha hydroxy acids, in which the two functional groups are separated by only one carbon atom.

Reactions

Upon dehydration, beta-hydroxy acids yield an alpha-beta unsaturated acid.

Compared to their non-hydroxylated counterpart, beta hydroxy carboxylic acids are stronger, although weaker than the alpha hydroxy acids. Due to the larger distance, the intramolecular hydrogen bridge is less easily formed compared to the alpha hydroxy acids. The table summarizes some values on the propionic series.

Name pKa
Propanoic acid 4.87
α-Hydroxypropionic acid 3.86
β-Hydroxypropionic acid 4.51

Occurrence and inventory

Aldonic acids, a type of sugar acid, are a class of naturally occurring β-hydroxycarboxylic acids. They have the general chemical formula HO2C(CHOH)nCH2OH. Gluconic acid, a particularly common aldonic acid, the oxidized derivative of glucose.

Other beta hydroxy acids include:

See also

References

  1. Miltenberger, Karlheinz (2000). "Hydroxycarboxylic Acids, Aliphatic". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a13_507. ISBN 3527306730.
  2. ^ Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, CRC press, 58th edition page D150-151 (1977)
  3. Dawson, R. M. C. et al., Data for Biochemical Research, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1959.
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