Water → 2-Hexadecanoyloxyhexadecanoic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

α-Hydroxypalmitic acid (3.2 g) was dissolved in pyridine (15 ml), and palmitoyl chloride (3.3 g) was added thereto at 0° C. The resulting mixture was allowed to stand overnight at room temperature. The reaction mixture was poured into water and the aqueous solution was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour, followed by acidification with 1N hydrochloric acid, and extraction with ethyl acetate. The extract was washed with water, dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated to give a residue which was recrystallized from petroleum ether to afford crystals of 2-hexadecanoyloxyhexadecanoic acid (5.4 g). M.p. 55°-56° C.

Provenance & Evidence