The Stereochemistry of α‐Oxidation of Fatty Acids in Plants

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

When [1‐14C]palmitic acid is incubated with young pea leaves, or solutions of their acetonedried powders, d‐2‐hydroxy[1‐14C]palmitic acid accumulates. When l‐[1‐14C, 2‐3H]palmitic acid is similarly oxidised, d‐2‐hydroxy[1‐14C]palmitate is formed which retains the tritium (99% retention). When d‐[1‐14C, 2‐3H]palmitic acid is similarly oxidised, d‐2‐hydroxy [1‐14C]palmitate is formed with loss of tritium (24% retention). The mechanism of α‐hydroxylation is therefore replacement of α‐hydrogen by hydroxyl with overall retention of configuration.