抄録
Ricinoleic acid is metabolized to three metabolites by some strains of Escherichia coli and an unidentified Gram negative coccus. The main product which was produced with the yield of 60 per cent or more was proved to be 8-D-hydroxy tetradec-cis-5-enoic acid. This acid is colorless liquid, [α]18D+6.82° in ethanol, and its p-bromophenacyl ester melts at 47.5°C. Other two components are con-sidered to be 10-hydroxy hexadec-7-enoic and 6-hydroxy dodec-3-enoic acids.
For the isolation of these substances, sili-cic acid column chromatography, reversed phase column chromatography and thin layer chromatography were employed. It was found that the thin layer chromatography (solvent system: hexane-ethyl acetate-acetic acid; 70:30:1) was very useful for the detection of hydroxy acids and dicarboxylic acids.
We are indebted to Prof. N. Ishida of Tohoku University for his kind advice in microbiological techniques. Thanks are also due to the members of the Central Analysis Room of this Institute for the elementary analyses and infrared spectroscopy.
