Mucic acid, C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>10</sub>O<sub>8</sub> or HOOC-(CHOH)<sub>4</sub>-COOH (galactaric acid or meso-galactaric acid) is an aldaric acid obtained by nitric acid oxidation of galactose or galactose-containing compounds such as lactose, dulcite, quercite, and most varieties of gum.
Properties
Mucic acid forms a crystalline powder, which melts at 210–230 °C. It is insoluble in alcohol, and nearly insoluble in cold water. When digested with fuming hydrochloric acid for some time it is converted into αα′ furfural dicarboxylic acid while on heating with barium sulfide it is transformed into α-thiophene carboxylic acid.
It has been used as a precursor of Taxol in Nicolaou Taxol total synthesis (1994).
See also
- Muconic acid