Valerate
Encyclopedia
A valerate is a salt
or ester
of valeric acid
. The valerate ion is C4H9COO− (valeric acid
minus one hydrogen ion
).
Many steroid
-based pharmaceuticals, for example ones based on betamethasone
or hydrocortisone, include the steroid as the valerate ester.
Salt
In chemistry, salts are ionic compounds that result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. They are composed of cations and anions so that the product is electrically neutral...
or ester
Ester
Esters are chemical compounds derived by reacting an oxoacid with a hydroxyl compound such as an alcohol or phenol. Esters are usually derived from an inorganic acid or organic acid in which at least one -OH group is replaced by an -O-alkyl group, and most commonly from carboxylic acids and...
of valeric acid
Valeric acid
Valeric acid, or pentanoic acid, is a straight-chain alkyl carboxylic acid with the chemical formula C5H10O2. Like other low-molecular-weight carboxylic acids, it has a very unpleasant odor. It is found naturally in the perennial flowering plant valerian , from which it gets its name. Its...
. The valerate ion is C4H9COO− (valeric acid
Valeric acid
Valeric acid, or pentanoic acid, is a straight-chain alkyl carboxylic acid with the chemical formula C5H10O2. Like other low-molecular-weight carboxylic acids, it has a very unpleasant odor. It is found naturally in the perennial flowering plant valerian , from which it gets its name. Its...
minus one hydrogen ion
Hydrogen ion
Hydrogen ion is recommended by IUPAC as a general term for all ions of hydrogen and its isotopes.Depending on the charge of the ion, two different classes can be distinguished: positively charged ions and negatively charged ions....
).
Many steroid
Steroid
A steroid is a type of organic compound that contains a characteristic arrangement of four cycloalkane rings that are joined to each other. Examples of steroids include the dietary fat cholesterol, the sex hormones estradiol and testosterone, and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone.The core...
-based pharmaceuticals, for example ones based on betamethasone
Betamethasone
Betamethasone is a potent glucocorticoid steroid with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. Unlike other drugs with these effects, betamethasone does not cause water retention. It is applied as a topical cream, ointment, foam, lotion or gel to treat itching...
or hydrocortisone, include the steroid as the valerate ester.
Examples
- Sodium valerate, Na(C4H9COO)
- Methyl valerate, CH3(C4H9COO)