Carboxylic acid carbonyl functionalities such as ketone as well as moderately reactive ester, olefin, nitrile, and halide moieties. Carboxylic acid A carboxylic acid is an organic compound that contains a carboxyl group (C(=O)OH). The general formula of a carboxylic acid is R–COOH, with R referring to the rest of the (possibly quite large) molecule. Carboxylic acids occur widely and include the amino acids (which make up proteins) and acetic acid (which is part of vinegar and occurs in metabolism). Salts and esters of carboxylic acids are called carboxylates. When a carboxyl group is deprotonated, its conjugate base forms a carboxylate anion. Carboxylate
Beta-Hydroxybutyric acid Beta-Hydroxybutyric acid β-Hydroxybutyric acid, also known as (R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid, is an organic compound and a beta hydroxy acid with the chemical formula CHCH(OH)CHCOH; its conjugate base is β-hydroxybutyrate, also known as 3-hydroxybutyrate. β-Hydroxybutyric acid is a chiral compound with two enantiomers: -β-hydroxybutyric acid and -β-hydroxybutyric acid. Its oxidized and polymeric derivatives occur widely in nature. In humans, -β-hydroxybutyric acid is one of two primary endogenous agonists of hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 2 (HCA), a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). In humans, can be synthesized in the liver via the metabolism of fatty acids (e.g., butyrate), , and ketogenic amino acids through a