描述
Nonacosane, also known as ch3-[ch2]27-ch3, is a member of the class of compounds known as alkanes. Alkanes are acyclic branched or unbranched hydrocarbons having the general formula CnH2n+2 , and therefore consisting entirely of hydrogen atoms and saturated carbon atoms. Thus, nonacosane is considered to be a hydrocarbon lipid molecule. Nonacosane can be found in a number of food items such as garden tomato (variety), papaya, brussel sprouts, and wild carrot, which makes nonacosane a potential biomarker for the consumption of these food products. Nonacosane occurs naturally and has been reported to be a component of a pheromone of Orgyia leucostigma, and evidence suggests it plays a role in the chemical communication of several insects, including the female Anopheles stephensi (a mosquito) .