Polyhydroxy dicarboxylic acids having the general formula
HOC(=O)[CH(OH)]nC(=O)OH
, formally derived from an
aldose by
oxidation of both terminal carbon atoms to carboxyl groups.
Source:
PAC, 1995, 67, 1307
(Glossary of class names of organic compounds and reactivity intermediates based on
structure (IUPAC Recommendations 1995))
on page 1312