The molecule is an N-acylneuraminic acid in which the acyl substituent on nitrogen is glycoloyl and which has alpha-configuration at the anomeric centre.
(2R,4S,5R,6R)-2,4-dihydroxy-5-[(2-hydroxyacetyl)amino]-6-[(1R,2R)-1,2,3-trihydroxypropyl]oxane-2-carboxylic acid