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Chemical Genetics of Nonacosan-15-one and Related Compounds in Brassica oleracea

Abstract

ON the basis of tracer feeding experiments with Brassica oleracea, Kolattukudy, Jaeger and Robinson1 have suggested that the probable biosynthetic route for the formation of C29 compounds is by chain elongation from palmitate, with subsequent decarboxylation of a C30 acid. The symmetrical ketone, C14H31COC14H31, and the corresponding secondary alcohol were said to be formed by a specific oxidation of a preformed chain of saturated carbon atoms. This is essentially the second of two mechanisms put forward by Chibnall and co-workers2,3, the first of which involved condensation of two molecules of pentadecanoic acid to give a symmetrical ketone.

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References

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MACEY, M., BARBER, H. Chemical Genetics of Nonacosan-15-one and Related Compounds in Brassica oleracea. Nature 222, 789–790 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1038/222789a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/222789a0

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