CHAPTER 19 CARBOXYLIC ACIDS C carboxylic acids, compounds of the type RCOH, constitute one of the most fre- quently encountered classes of organic compounds. Countless natural products are carboxylic acids or are derived from them. Some carboxylic acids, such as acetic acid, have been known for centuries. Others, such as the prostaglandins, which are pow- erful regulators of numerous biological processes, remained unknown until relatively recently. Still others, aspirin for example, are the products of chemical synthesis. The therapeutic effects of aspirin, welcomed long before the discovery of prostaglandins, are now understood to result from aspirins ability to inhibit the biosynthes (CH2)6CO,H CH2COH OCC Acetic acid PGE,(a prostaglandin; a small amount Aspirin of PGE, lowers blood pressure The chemistry of carboxylic acids is the central theme of this chapter. The impor tance of carboxylic acids is magnified when we realize that they are the parent com pounds of a large group of derivatives that includes acyl chlorides, acid anhydrides, esters, and amides. Those classes of compounds will be discussed in the chapter fol 736 Back Forward Main MenuToc Study Guide ToC Student o MHHE WebsiteCHAPTER 19 CARBOXYLIC ACIDS Carboxylic acids, compounds of the type , constitute one of the most fre￾quently encountered classes of organic compounds. Countless natural products are carboxylic acids or are derived from them. Some carboxylic acids, such as acetic acid, have been known for centuries. Others, such as the prostaglandins, which are pow￾erful regulators of numerous biological processes, remained unknown until relatively recently. Still others, aspirin for example, are the products of chemical synthesis. The therapeutic effects of aspirin, welcomed long before the discovery of prostaglandins, are now understood to result from aspirin’s ability to inhibit the biosynthesis of prostaglandins. The chemistry of carboxylic acids is the central theme of this chapter. The impor￾tance of carboxylic acids is magnified when we realize that they are the parent com￾pounds of a large group of derivatives that includes acyl chlorides, acid anhydrides, esters, and amides. Those classes of compounds will be discussed in the chapter fol￾CH3COH O Acetic acid (present in vinegar) HO OH O (CH2)6CO2H (CH2)4CH3 PGE1 (a prostaglandin; a small amount of PGE1 lowers blood pressure significantly) Aspirin COH O O OCCH3 RCOH O X 736 Back Forward Main Menu TOC Study Guide TOC Student OLC MHHE Website