Polyhydroxy acids having the general formula
HOCH2[CH(OH)]nC(=O)OH
and therefore derived from an
aldose by
oxidation of the
aldehyde function, e.g.
d-gluconic acid.
Source:
PAC, 1995, 67, 1307
(Glossary of class names of organic compounds and reactivity intermediates based on
structure (IUPAC Recommendations 1995))
on page 1313