Batyl alcohol

Batyl alcohol is an organic compound with the formula HOCH2CH(OH)CH2OC18H37. 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:
 * HOCH2CH(OH)CH2OC18H37 + 1.5 O2 ->  HOCH2CH(OH)CH2OH  +  HO2CHC17H35 +  H2O

Batyl alcohol and related glycyl ethers are also susceptible to dehydrogenation catalyzed unsaturases to give the vinyl ethers called plasmalogens:
 * HOCH2CH(OH)CH2OC18H37 + [O] ->  HOCH2CH(OH)CH2OCH\dCHC16H35 +  H2O