A. C. Hulme
1954
Citations
0
Influential Citations
10
Citations
Journal
Biochimica et biophysica acta
Abstract
Abstract 1. 1. A study is made of the oxidation products of an acid isolated from the peel of apples, synthetic citramalic and β-hydroxyglutaric acids, coupling the oxidation products with 2.4-dinitrophenyl-hydrazine for this purpose. 2. 2. As a result of this study, it is confirmed that the acid from the peel is citramalic acid and an explanation is provided for the observation that both citramalic acid and β-hydrocyglutaric acid yield acetoacetic acid on oxidation. 3. 3. The data presented also explain why quinic acid and citric acid yield, on oxidation, malonic acid and suggest that there is an intermediate formation of acetoacetic acid. 4. 4. In the light of these results the possible function of citramalic acid in the apple peel is discussed and it is suggested that the acetone known to be given off by apples might ultimately derive from this acid.