To reveal further the attitude of riboflavin 2′, 3′, 4′, 5′-tetrabutyrate in animal body, the process of its enzymic hydrolysis to riboflavin and butyric acid was studied. Using pancreatic lipase, the ester was hydrolyzed and the partial hydrolysates were analyzed, and it was found that the hydrolysis is initiated at ester bonding of either side and proceeds via stepwise cleavage.
