lactaldehyde
Lactaldehyde is an organic compound with the formula C3H6O2. It is the aldehyde corresponding to lactic acid and is also known as 2-hydroxypropanal. The molecule contains an aldehyde group at one end and a secondary alcohol on the adjacent carbon, giving the structure HO-CH(CH3)-CHO. It is chiral at the central carbon, so the compound exists as two enantiomers.
In biochemistry, lactaldehyde is recognized as a metabolic intermediate in certain microbial pathways and in the
Chemically, lactaldehyde behaves as a typical aldehyde bearing a beta-hydroxy substituent. It can be oxidized to
Safety and handling considerations apply to lactaldehyde, as with many small aldehydes. It can be an irritant