text: α-Ketoisovaleric acid is an organic compound with the formula (CH)CHC(O)COH.  It is a ketoacid.  With a melting point just above room temperature, it is usually an oil or semi-solid.  The compound is colorless. It is a metabolite of valine and a precursor to pantothenic acid, a prosthetic group found in several cofactors.  In the biological context, is usually encountered as its conjugate base ketoisovalerate, (CH)CHC(O)CO.