GLYCOSIDES
OF
FATTY ACIDS, ALCOHOLS
OR AMINO ALCOHOLS
A great number of simple glycolipids are found in
bacteria, yeasts and in lower organisms (sponges). These compounds are composed
of a glycosyl moiety (one or several units) linked to one hydroxyl group of a fatty
alcohol or of a phosphorylated alcohol (phosphoprenols), a hydroxy fatty acid or to one
carboxyl group of a fatty acid (ester linkage) or to an amino alcohol. These compounds frequently
possess interesting physical or biological properties. Some of them are
industrially produced for their detergent properties (alkyl
glycosides).