TABLE 18-3
Naturally Occurring Unsaturated Fatty Acids
Common
Name
Systematic Name*
Molecular
Formula
Structural Formula
w-Series’1
’
Melting
Point (°C)
Palmitoleic^
9-Hexadecenoic
^ 1 6 ^ 3 0 ^ 2
CH
3
(CH2)5CH
=
CH(CH2)7COOH
(0-1
0.5
Oleic*
9-Octadecenoic
C
1 8
H
3 4
0
2
CH
3
(CH2)7CH
=
CH(CH2)7COOH
co-9
13
Vaccenic
trans
-11 -Octadecenoic
^ 1 8 ^ 3 4 ^ 2
CH
3
(CH2)5CH
=
CH(CH2)9COOH
(0-1
43
Linoleic*
9,12-Octadecadienoic
^ 1 8 ^ 3 2 ^ 2
CH
3
(CH2)4CH
=
CHCH
2
CH= CH(CH2)7COOH
(0-6
-5
a-Linolenic
9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic
^ 1 8 ^ 3 0 ^ 2
CH
3
CH2CH
=
CHCH2CH
=
CHCH2CH
=
CH(CH2)7COOH
co-3
- 1 1
y-Linolenic
6,9,12-Octadecatrienoic
^
1 8 ^ 3 0 ^ 2
CH
3
(CH2)4CH
=
CHCH2CH
=
CHCH2CH
=
CH(CH2)4COOH
(0-6
- 1 1
Arachidonic^
5,8,11,14-Eicosatetraenoic
^ - 2 0 ^ 3 2 ^ 2
CH
3
(CH2)4—(CH
=
CH—CH
2
)
4
—(CH2)2—COOH
CO-6
-50
Nervonic
15-Tetracosenoic
(“' 2 4 ^ 4 6 ® 2
CH
3
(CH2)7CH
=
CH(CH2) J 3COOH
co-9
39
*AU double bonds are in the
cis
geometric configuration, except where indicated.
t This series is based on the number of carbon atoms present between the terminal methyl group and the nearest double bond;
(0-3
andw
- 6
are essential fatty acids.
*Most abundant unsaturated fatty acids in animal lipids.
