Caperatic acid is a naturally occurring organic compound classified as a microbial metabolite. The compound has been reported in certain actinobacteria through fermentation and has also been identified in lichens.[1]

Caperatic acid
Othernames
  • 5-Methyl hydrogen 3-C-carboxy-2,4-dideoxy-2-tetradecylpentarate
  • 2-Hydroxy-1,2,3-heptadecanetricarboxylic acid 1-methyl ester
Iupacname2-hydroxy-2-(2-methoxy-2-oxoethyl)-3-tetradecylbutanedioic acid
PinCaperatic acid
Systematicname2-Hydroxy-1,2,3-heptadecanetricarboxylic acid monomethyl ester

Properties

Caperatic acid is a crystalline organic compound. Computational models predict a boiling point of 549.3 ± 50 °C, but the compound is expected to decompose before reaching this temperature under laboratory conditions. The predicted density is 1.10 g/cm³. [2]

Occurrence

Scientists have identified caperatic acid in lichens, particularly Platismatia glauca, which grows across Europe and North America.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Caperatic acid (CHEBI:144132)". ChEBI. EMBL-EBI. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  2. ^ "Caperatic acid". ChemSpider. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  3. ^ Ren, M.; Jiang, S.J.S.; Wang, Y.; Pan, X.P.; Pan, F.F.; Wei, X. (2023). "Discovery and excavation of lichen bioactive natural products". Frontiers in Microbiology. 14: 112345. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2023.1177123. PMC 10149937. PMID 37138611