linoleic acid
Also known as linolic acid, telfairic acid, cis,cis-linoleic acid, 9Z,12Z-octadecadienoic acid, LA, all-cis-9,12-octadecadienoic acid, C18:2, n-6,9 all-cis, cis,cis-9,12-octadecadienoic acid
chemical compound and essential nutrient
Chemical data
- Formula
- C18H32O2
- Molecular weight
- 280.4 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- (9Z,12Z)-octadeca-9,12-dienoic acid
- SMILES
- CCCCC/C=C\C/C=C\CCCCCCCC(=O)O
- InChIKey
- OYHQOLUKZRVURQ-HZJYTTRNSA-N
- XLogP
- 6.8
- Polar surface area
- 37.3 Ų
- H-bond donors
- 1
- H-bond acceptors
- 2
- Formal charge
- 0
via PubChem
Research
30,386 papers~8 min read
Article
Linoleic acid (LA) is an organic compound with the formula CH3(CH2)4CH=CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)7COOH. Both alkene groups (−CH=CH−) are cis. It is a fatty acid sometimes denoted 18:2 (n−6) or 18:2 cis-9,12. A linoleate is a salt or ester of this acid.
Linoleic acid is a polyunsaturated, omega−6 fatty acid. It is a colorless liquid that is virtually insoluble in water but soluble in many organic solvents. It typically occurs in nature as a triglyceride (ester of glycerin) rather than as a free fatty acid. It is one of two essential fatty acids for humans, who must obtain it through their diet, and the most essential, because the body uses it as a base to make the others.