Identification of 2‐Methyl‐3‐hydroxydecanoic and 2‐Methyl‐3‐hydroxytetradecanoic Acids in the ‘Lipid X’ Fraction of the Bordetella pertussis Endotoxin

Abstract
The lipid X fraction, released from the B. pertussis endotoxin upon treatment with trifluoroacetic acid of pH 3 at 50.degree. C, apparently contained 3-hydroxydecanoic, 3-hydroxydodecanoic, 3-hydroxytetradecanoic, tetradec-2-enoic acids, 2-methyl-3-hydroxydecanoic- and 2-methyl-3-hydroxytetradecanoic acids. Their structure was established by GLC/mass spectrometry.