2 GLUTARIC ACID-DERIVATIVES FROM OLIVES

Two linear compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of r esidues resulting from olive oil processing. These compounds were char acterized by NMR and identified as 3-[1-(hydroxymethyl)-(E)1-propenyl] glutaric acid and 3-[1-(formyl)-(E)1-propenyl] glutaric acid. Spectra of the products resulting from reduction and saponification confirmed the proposed structures. These products are structural components of a more complex molecule, oleuropein, which confers a bitter taste to o lives. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.