FATTY ACIDS

FATTY ACIDS

• Fatty acids are aliphatic carboxylic acid.
• Classification of Fatty acids– 4 major classes

1. Straight chain fatty acids– most abundant fatty acids in human.

1. Saturated fatty acids- no double bond. General formula C_n H_2n+1 COOH
2. Unsaturated fatty acids– subdivided

        i) Monounsaturated (Monoenoic) fatty acids-single double bond. C_n H_2n-1 COOH

• Monoenoic fatty acids contain double bond at 9^th  position.

        ii) Polyunsaturated fatty acids– two or more double bond. C_n H_{2n- (2x-1)}

E.g. –

2. Branched chain fatty acids

3. Substituted fatty acids

4. Cyclic fatty acids

B) According to chain length-

• Short chain length- less than 6 carbon atoms chain
• Medium chain length
• Long chain length

Nomenclature-

• Carbon atoms adjacent to carboxyl carbon- α, β, γ carbons.
• Terminal methyl carbon- ω or n- carbon
• Δ (delta numbering or C- system)