The molecule is a substituted cyclohexene, consisting of a six-membered ring with a single internal double bond between carbons 4 and 5. The ring carbons are numbered consecutively from 1 to 6.

There are 5 substituents on this ring.

- Carbon 1 bears two substituents:
  1. a carboxylic-acid group,
  2. an isobutyl group, -CH2-CH(CH3)2 (a methylene attached to a secondary carbon bearing two methyl groups).
- Carbon 3 bears two substituents:
  3. another carboxylic acid group (-COOH),
  4. a 2-hydroxyethyl group (-CH2-CH2-OH).
- Carbon 4 has one substituent:
  5. a methyl group (-CH3).

No stereochemistry is defined at any center.