Chemistry of Fatty Acids.
Chemistry of Fatty Acids.
Chemistry of Fatty Acids.
FATTY ACIDS
Dr Naim
FATTY ACIDS
• Fatty acids are water-soluble, long-chain
hydrocarbons with one carboxyl group at the end of
the chain and a methyl group at the other end (the ω-
carbon).
CH3-(CH2)-CH2-CH2-CH2-COOH
• At physiologic pH, the terminal carboxyl group
(COOH) ionizes and becomes -C00-.
• The -COO- group has an affinity for water and the
rest of the region is hydrophobic. This results in the
formation of an amphipathic molecule.
Amphipathic Lipids
R COOH
Occurrence
• FFA
Free
• Blood
D/U Total no D/U Length of D/U Nature of
of carbon hydrocarbon hydrocarbon
atoms chain chain
Short chain FA Saturated FA
Even chain FA
Medium chain FA Unsaturated FA
• 3 Carbon • 5 Carbon
Nomenclature
• The most frequently used systematic nomenclature
names the fatty acid after the hydrocarbon with the
same number and arrangement of carbon atoms, with -
oic being substituted for the final –e
CH3-(CH2)-CH2-CH2-CH2-COO-
omega beta alpha
• Because the physiological role of PUFAs is related
more to the position of the first double bond near
the methyl end of the chain than to the carboxyl
end, an alternative nomenclature is sometimes
used for these fatty acids
CH3-(CH2)-CH2-CH2-CH2-COO-
omega beta alpha
Palmitic acid
1. C- 2. ω-or n-
System System
1. C-System
2. ω-or n-System
..
In which hydrocarbon side chain is saturated (no
doublebonds).
Subclassified according to number of doublebonds
Monounsaturated
Polyunsaturated FA
FA
• One double bond • 2 or more double
bonds