guaiaretic, a. Chem.
(gwaɪəˈrɛtɪk)
[f. guaiac + Gr. ῥητ-ίνη resin + -ic, after G. guajakharzsäure guaiac resin acid (H. Hlasiwetz 1861, in Ann. d. Chem. und Pharm. CXIX. 267).]
guaiaretic acid: a white compound, C20H24O4, found in gum guaiacum. So guaiˈaretate, a salt of this acid.
| 1866 H. Watts tr. Gmelin's Hand-bk. Chem. XVII. 243 Guaiaretic acid dissolves very slightly in cold or warm ammonia-water. 1892 Photogr. Ann. II. 73 Guaiaretic Acid,..when freshly prepared, is soluble in alcohol, ether, [etc.]. Ibid., Addition of small quantities of colouring matters..to the guaiaretic acid or guaiaretates. 1964 Jrnl. Chem. Soc. 4011 Fractionation of the resin, by solvents, pyrolysis, etc., resulted in numerous products. Outstanding among these is the dihydric phenol, guaiaretic acid, readily isolated as its sparingly soluble sodium salt. |