Natural aliphatic oxygenated unsaturated acids. Synthesis and biological activity.

The review is devoted to natural unsaturated acyclic acids containing oxygen functions. Compounds of the aceto-genin and propiogenin types containing hydroxy, oxo, and epoxy groups as well as ether, hydrofuran, and hydropyran fragments are considered. Data are given on the biological activities of the acids themselves or of natural compounds whose structural elements are unsaturated acids. The methodology and strategy of the synthesis of both linear unsaturated hydroxy and alkoxy acids and those containing a heterocyclic fragment are discussed. The bibliograhy includes 172 references.