MOLECULE

Heptanoic acid

Heptanoic acid or heptanoate, also known as enanthylic acid, or enanthic acid, is an organic compound composed of a seven-carbon chain terminating in a carboxylic acid. It belongs to the class of organic compounds known as medium-chain fatty acids. These are fatty acids with an aliphatic tail that contains between 4 and 12 carbon atoms. Heptanoate is a very weakly acidic compound, is slightly soluble in water, but very soluble in ethanol and ether. It is an oily liquid with an unpleasant, rancid odor that contributes to the odor of some rancid oils. Present in essential oils, such as violet leaf oil, palm oil, it is also found in apple, feijoa fruit, clove bud, ginger, black tea, morello cherry, grapes, rice bran, scallops, leek and other foodstuffs such as strawberry jam, soups and sauces. Heptanoic acid is one of several saturated fatty acids isolated from the oil of cannabis seeds (PMID: 6991645). Heptanoic acid is used in the preparation of esters, such as ethyl heptanoate, which are used in fragrances and as artificial flavors. It is one of many additives in cigarettes. Heptanoic acid is used to esterify steroids in the preparation of drugs such as testosterone enanthate, trenbolone enanthate, drostanolone enanthate, and methenolone enanthate (Primobolan). It is used as one of the components in washing solutions and used to assist lye peeling (by immersion into a lye solution) of fruit and vegetables.