The Oxidation of Butyric Acid by Means of Hydro- Gen Peroxide with Formation of Acetone, Aldehydes and Other Products

Among the numerous investigations made with the object of throwing light upon the mode of oxidation of organic acids in the animal organism few have been more suggestive than those concerned with the origin of the “acetone bodies” from the saturated fatty acids. It will be recalled that the acetonuria resulting fromstarvation, from a carbohydrate-free dietary, or from experimental or human diabetes is associated with an excessive fat catabolism. It is generally conceded that the long carbon chain in the molecule of the higher fatty acids is resolved in such a way as to yield one or more molecules of butyric acid and that the acetone bodies (,&oxybutyric acid, aceto-acetic acid and acetone) result from the further oxidation of this substance: