No abstract

Three new 10‐hydroxy fatty acids, all optically active, have been prepared by the anaerobic microbiological hydration of acis‐9 double bond. Substrates that formed these new hydroxy fatty acids are linoleic, linolenic, and ricinoleic acids. The hydroxyl group has the D configuration and the methyl esters are levorotatory. Infrared, mass spectral, specific rotation and ultraviolet data on these compounds were determined. There was no migration of the unreated double bonds at C12 and C15 in linoleic or linolenic acids. The presence of a double bond in the 10‐hydroxy fatty acids significantly increased the optical rotation of the methyl esters. The hydratase enzyme showed unusual specificity among Δ9 unsaturated acids. While it hydrates methylene interrupted and hydroxy unsaturated acids, it failed to hydrate either 9‐decenoic, 12,13‐epoxy‐ or 12‐keto‐cis‐9‐octadecenoic acids or sterculic acid.