The Stereochemistry of α‐Oxidation of Fatty Acids in Plants

When [1‐14C] palmitic acid was incubated with young pea leaves or solutions of their acetonedried powders, 2‐hydroxy [1‐14C]palmitic acid accumulated. This metabolite has been isolated as its methyl ester. When diluted with unlabelled synthetic methyl D‐2‐hydroxypalmitate to known specific activity, and recrystallised, the crystals and mother liquor residues retained the same specific activity. When diluted with unlabelled synthetic methyl L‐2‐hydroxypalmitate to known specific activity and recrystllised, the crystals were almost non‐radioactive. The radoactive metabolite therefore has the D‐configuration. Unlabelled 2‐hydroxypalmitic acid isolated from pea leaves was shown to have the D‐configuration by direct measurement.