Thermal Reaction of Safflower Oil Fatty Acid Methyl Ester in the Presence of Iodine

Abstract

Thermal reaction of safflower oil fatty acid methyl esters or methyl linoreate in the presence of iodine yields a remarkable amount of methyl octadecenoates. For the purpose of clarification of the source of hydrogen which is required for the formation of octadecenoates, the components of the reaction products by the thermal reaction of safflower oil fatty acid methyl esters in the presence of iodine (200°C, 2hr) were identified by means of GC-MS method.The results show that isomers of ω- (o-alkylphenyl) carboxylic acid methyl ester, dehydro-and Diels-Alder adduct type dimers of C18 fatty acid methyl esters, a few different types of C18 iodofatty acid methyl esters and a little amount of decomposition products such as alkanes, alkyl-benzenes etc. are present in the reaction products.It is postulated that the hydrogen which will evolve in the course of formation of ω- (o-alkyl-phenyl) carboxylates and dimers makes a main role as hydrogen source for the formation of octadecenoates.