MOLECULE

Malonic acid

Malonic acid, also known as malonate or H2MALO, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as dicarboxylic acids and derivatives. These are organic compounds containing two carboxylic acid groups. Malonic acid is a very hydrophobic molecule, practically insoluble in water. Malonic acid exists in all living species, ranging from bacteria to humans. In humans, malonic acid is involved in fatty acid biosynthesis. Malonic acid has also been detected, but not quantified, in several different foods, such as red beetroots, corns, scarlet beans, common beets, and cow milks. Malonic acid is also one of several organic acids that are known to occur in cannabis plants (PMID: 6991645). Industrially, it is used in a number of manufacturing processes as a high value specialty chemical, including the electronics industry, flavors and fragrances industry, specialty solvents, polymer crosslinking, and pharmaceutical industry.