Journal of Lipid Research, Vol. 12, 773-776, November 1971
Copyright © 1971 by Lipid Research, Inc.

On methylation of unsaturated acids using boron trihalide-methanol reagents

W. E. Klopfenstein

Department of Biochemistry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66502

Methanolysis of unsaturated fatty acids and triglycerides was carried out with boron trihalide-methanol reagents of various ages. Boron trichloride-methanol produced esters apparently free from contaminants; boron trifluoride caused some loss of highly unsaturated esters after 90 min at 100 or 120°C in Teflon-lined screw-cap vials and at 120°C in ampoules. The losses were more marked when the reactions were carried out in vinyl-lined screw-cap vials. Noticeable losses did not occur with any of the vessel types when BCl₃-CH₃OH was the methylating agent. Long-term studies at 80°C further demonstrated that BCl₃-CH₃OH caused less loss of unsaturated acid than did BF₃-CH₃OH.

Supplementary key words methyl esters • boron trifluoride-methanol • boron trichloride-methanol • unsaturation • fatty acids • triglycerides • methoxy esters

Submitted on July 16, 1970
Revised on June 7, 1971
Accepted on June 18, 1971

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?