Pimelic acid

Pimelic acid is the organic compound with the formula HO2C(CH2)5CO2H. Derivatives of pimelic acid are involved in the biosynthesis of the amino acid called lysine. Pimelic acid is one methylene longer than a related dicarboxylic acid, adipic acid, a precursor to many polyesters and polyamides.

Pimelic acid has been synthesized from cyclohexanone and from salicylic acid. In the former route, the additional carbon is suppled by dimethyloxalate, which reacts with the enolate.