Mevalonic acid

Mevalonic acid is a key organic compound in biochemistry. It is a precursor in the biosynthetic pathway, known as the HMG-CoA reductase pathway, that produces terpenes and steroids.



Mevalonic acid is very soluble in water and in polar organic solvents. It exists in equilibrium with the lactone, called mevalolactone, formed by internal condensation of its terminal alcohol and carboxylic acid functional groups.