Behenic acid

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Behenic acid

IUPAC name	Docosanoic acid
Other names	Behenic acid, Docosanoic acid; 1-Docosanoic acid; n-Docosanoic acid, n-Docosanoate, Glycon B-70, Hydrofol Acid 560, Hydrofol 2022-55, Hystrene 5522, Hystrene 9022, Prifrac 2989
Identifiers
CAS number	[112-85-6]
PubChem	8215
EINECS number	204-010-8
SMILES	`OC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC`
Properties
Molecular formula	C₂₂H₄₄O₂
Molar mass	340.58 g/mol
Appearance	White to yellowish crystals or powder
Melting point	74 - 78 °C ^[1]
Boiling point	306 °C
Hazards
NFPA 704	1 1 0
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox references

Behenic acid, also docosanoic acid, is a normal carboxylic acid, a fatty acid with formula C₂₁H₄₃COOH. In appearance, it consists of white to cream color crystals or powder with a melting point of 74-78°C and boiling point of 306°C.

At 9%, it is a major component of Ben oil (or behen oil), which is extracted from the seeds of the Ben-oil tree. It is so named from the Persian month Bahman when the roots of this tree were harvested.

Behenic acid is also present in some other oils and oil-bearing plants, including rapeseed (canola) and peanut oil and skins. It is estimated that one ton of peanut skins contains 13 pounds of behenic acid. Commercially, behenic acid is often used to give hair conditioners and moisturizers their smoothing properties.^[2]

As a dietary oil, behenic acid is poorly absorbed. In spite of its low bioavailability compared with oleic acid, behenic acid is a cholesterol-raising fatty acid in humans.^[3]

Reduction of behenic acid yields behenyl alcohol.