The molecule is an oxo monocarboxylic acid that is 2-oxobutanoic acid in which both of the hydrogens at position 3 are substituted by methyl groups and one of the hydrogens at position 4 is substituted by a hydroxy group. It is an oxo monocarboxylic acid and a hydroxy monocarboxylic acid. It derives from a pantoic acid. It is a conjugate acid of a 2-dehydropantoate.
4-hydroxy-3,3-dimethyl-2-oxobutanoic acid