Abstract
The high vacuum residuum of methyl esters of the rice bran oil was treated with methanol and the methanol soluble matter was then repeatedly chromatographed by using active alumina to isolate a new compound, colorless needle crystal, having mp at 95.3°C, molecular weight 444 (Rast) and [α] 15D -46.6°C (chrolof orm).
The new compound had extinguishable maximum absorption band at 268 mμ and its E1%1cm was 506. It was positive to Liebermann-Burchard reaction, while negative to Emmerie-Engel reaction and to digitonin reaction.
The existence of carbonyl group was confirmed by the infra-red absorption spectrum and by the oxime formation with hydroxylamine hydrochloride.
This substance was unstable and its UV absorption spectrum was convertible during preservation, i.e., extinction at 268 mμ decreased, while new extinction maximum at 230 mμ was observed.
These properties were similar to that of Calciferol. However, upon investigation by comparing with Oppenauer-oxidized Calciferol, they were not the same substance.
