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.
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Source:
PAC, 1995, 67, 1307. 'Glossary of class names of organic compounds and reactivity intermediates based on structure (IUPAC Recommendations 1995)' on page 1313 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199567081307)