15-Hydroxypentadecanoic acid is an ω-hydroxy acid. One of the method reported for its synthesis is from 1,12-dodecanolide. It is reported to be one of the bioactive component in Tagetes erecta L. leaf and flower extract.

15-Hydroxypentadecanoic acid undergoes lactonization reaction catalyzed by Mucor javanicus L46 and Mucor miehei to afford macrocyclic mono- and oligolactone derivatives. Its lipase-catalyzed synthesis from 15-tetracosenoic acid in Malania Olcifera Chum oil has been proposed. It also participates in the biosynthesis of pentadecanolide.

15-Hydroxypentadecanoic acid is suitable reagent used in the following studies:

• As an internal standard in the quantification of formation of 11-hydroxylauric acid by gas chromatography.
• In the synthesis of [16-¹⁴C]16DCA (DCA= dicarboxylic acid) by one-carbon elongation procedure at C15.
• As an internal standard for the normalization of intensities in the mass spectra of plant cutin polymer.

It may be used in the synthesis of 5-pentadecanolide on dealuminated HY zeolite and also fatty acid analog of podophyllotoxin.