The molecule is a polyunsaturated fatty aldehyde that is (2E,6E,8E,10E)-dodeca-2,6,8,10-tetraenal in which the pro-S hydrogen at position 5 has been replaced by a hydroxy group. It is a secondary allylic alcohol, an alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde, a polyunsaturated fatty aldehyde, a hydroxy fatty aldehyde and a medium-chain fatty aldehyde.
(2E,5S,6E,8E,10E)-5-hydroxydodeca-2,6,8,10-tetraenal