Batyl alcohol

Batyl alcohol is an organic compound with the formula. It is a colorless solid. Batyl alcohol is a monoether formed by condensation of stearyl alcohol with one of the two primary alcohol sites of glycerol. Together with S-selachyl alcohol and S-chimyl alcohol, S-batyl alcohol is a component of some lipid membranes.

Occurrence and metabolism

It is found in the liver of the shark Centrophorus squamosus. The name batyl is derived from a classification of rays, order Batoidea. Like other glyceryl ethers, those derived from batyl alcohol are not saponifiable.
Batyl alcohol and related glycyl ethers are susceptible to oxidation catalyzed by glyceryl-ether monooxygenases. The net oxidation gives glycerol and the carboxylic acid:
Batyl alcohol and related glycyl ethers are also susceptible to dehydrogenation catalyzed unsaturases to give the vinyl ethers called plasmalogens: